Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste on Friday filed a civil complaint for libel against Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro over her remarks involving a solar energy company founded by the lawmaker.

Leviste said Castro’s statements claiming that he sold a company holding a government franchise were “libelous,” insisting that the firm he sold did not have a franchise.

“I did not sold the franchise, what I sold is the compane that has no franchise,” Leviste said in the vernacular.

He said he did not intend to hurt Castro but stressed the need to defend his name, citing several vlogs that he said were directed at him.

Leviste added that he divested his shares in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) before assuming office in the 20th Congress. SPNEC, he said, is a separate and distinct corporate entity from Solar Para sa Bayan, which secured a 25-year franchise in 2019.

Castro, in a statement, said she has yet to receive a copy of the complaint but questioned why Leviste appeared to be singling her out.

“Cong. Leviste admitted in one of his interview that the source of the alleged selling of the company that has a franchise came from Ombudsman Remulla. But he did not file a case against the Ombudsman because he respected it since he is a friend of his mother.

"Kakasuhan ba niya ako dahil sa hindi ako kaibigan ng nanay niya at hindi niya ako ginagalang? Can we say that the statements of the Ombudsman are with basis and not maligning while my statements sourced from the Ombudsman are nothing but libelous?" she added.

Castro said the filing of the complaint was meant to silence her.

"The filing of this case is the real plan for me to stop talking and discuss the issue,” Castro said.

Leviste’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, alleged that Castro’s remarks formed part of a “targeted attack” against his client, who has been vocal in criticizing the government’s infrastructure budget.

“Ito ay hindi lamang exercise ng freedom of expression. This is a targeted attack against Cong. Leviste for being a critic of the government,” Topacio said.

“This is under civil code wherein the principe of this is if you have someone injured you are liable to pay for damages. Hindi po nais ipakulong si Usec. Claire Castro, ngunit gusto namin siyang panagutin. Unang-una, sapagkat may ginawa siyang mali, sa aming opinyon, at pangalawa to vindicate ‘yung good name and reputation of my client na sinira po niya with malice,” he added.

Earlier, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Solar Philippines failed to produce the power it committed to deliver within the agreed timeline, prompting the government to cancel several contracts and impose a P24-billion penalty.

Leviste, for his part, claimed on Wednesday that the company he founded had “built” the “highest” renewable energy capacity in the country, saying he would address the government’s claims “at the proper forum.”