The Office of the Ombudsman has advanced its review of plunder, graft, and conflict-of-interest complaints against Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste and his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, elevating the cases to the preliminary investigation stage.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla announced on Friday that the complaints passed initial screening and are now being formally evaluated to determine if there is probable cause to file criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan.
The allegations stem from “ghost electricity” schemes linked to solar power contracts tied to Leviste’s renewable energy enterprise, Solar Philippines.
The elevated probe comes after the Department of Energy (DOE) scrapped multiple agreements with Solar Philippines for failing to deliver promised power capacities within set deadlines. The DOE also slapped the firm with ₱24 billion in penalties.
Addressing the scale of the alleged financial fallout during a press briefing, Remulla stated:
“The ₱10 billion is just in the contract, but the amount lost to us Filipinos is in the hundreds of billions.”
Leviste previously acknowledged his ownership of Solar Philippines through Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPHI), though he maintains that he is no longer involved in the company’s day-to-day operations.