Loren lawyer rejects Boying’s ‘ghost solar power’ claim
La Viña rejected claims that the government or the public had been shortchanged, saying Leviste’s businesses contributed solar power to the country’s energy mix.
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La Viña rejected claims that the government or the public had been shortchanged, saying Leviste’s businesses contributed solar power to the country’s energy mix.
Politics, not evidence, is driving the case against Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, their lawyer has said.
Atty. Tony La Viña, spokesperson for Legarda, said a review of the allegations found no illegal or improper act by either lawmaker. He said the evidence instead pointed to legitimate private business activity and entrepreneurial risk-taking involving Leviste’s solar energy ventures.
“After intensive review, I am convinced that she and her son have absolutely not done anything illegal and even improper with respect to the solar energy business of the latter,” La Viña said.
“At worst, Leandro has been innovative and out-of-the-box as an entrepreneur. That should be rewarded, not punished,” he added.
La Viña stressed that the matter remains at the preliminary investigation stage and that no formal charge has been filed against Legarda or Leviste.
He accused Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla of making public statements that appeared to presume liability before the investigation had been completed.
Questions
Remulla has said the Ombudsman is examining alleged irregularities involving solar energy projects and companies linked to Leviste. He has also questioned how Leviste obtained a congressional franchise and whether Legarda used her position to assist her son.
La Viña denied that Legarda had any ownership or operational role in Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. or other Solar Philippines companies.
“There are no corporate documents showing her as a shareholder, officer, or beneficiary,” he said. “Saying she’s connected to the business only because she’s the mother of a private businessman is pure invention.”
“Responsibility is personal,” he added. “Senator Legarda should not be shielded from scrutiny because Leviste is her son. But neither should motherhood become evidence against her.”
La Viña also disputed claims that the Solar Para sa Bayan franchise was exclusive or involved government subsidies.
He said the franchise was never sold and could not be fully implemented because the Department of Energy did not issue the required implementing rules or identify the areas where it could operate.
Maverick?
The lawyer said critics were also conflating separate corporations and government instruments, including congressional franchises and renewable energy service contracts.
On Leviste’s business activities, La Viña said failed implementation or policy gaps did not establish criminal liability.
“Leandro introduced new ideas and approaches to fast-track the energy transition, and there may have been policy gaps that prevented the successful implementation of some of those ideas,” he said. “But that is not a criminal act.”
La Viña further rejected claims that the government or the public had been shortchanged, saying Leviste’s businesses contributed solar power to the country’s energy mix.
“The timing speaks for itself,” he said, describing the pattern as “classic lawfare, the weaponization of the law for political purposes.”
“What is going on is clearly political persecution,” he said. “It has always been wrong. And it must stop now.”
‘Made money’
Remulla, however, has described the allegations as a serious case involving alleged exclusive control over solar energy projects.
“Here, there is ghost electricity,” Remulla said, alleging that the companies promised to produce electricity under the Philippine Energy Plan but failed to do so.
“They didn’t do it. They just sold, they just made money. If they built anything, it was a pittance,” he added.
Remulla also said the alleged arrangements effectively excluded other investors from the solar energy sector.
“It is as if they own the sun, the power of the sun, to the exclusion of other Filipinos and other investors,” he said.
