The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges may look into the repeated absences of Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste if he cannot provide a valid reason for his continued failure to attend congressional sessions, La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega V said.
Ortega said the Ethics Committee is the appropriate body to determine whether Leviste’s prolonged absence warrants disciplinary action.
“I think ang proper na mag-look into it, look into that is yung Committee on Ethics. Siyempre yun naman ang parang polis namin dito sa loob ng Kongreso. At yung walang paliwanag yung patuloy na hindi pagpasok or absent, eh dun po talaga papatakim. Pero as of now parang wala pa akong naririnig dun sa sitwasyon niya,” Ortega said.
The House has yet to disclose whether Leviste secured official travel authority for his overseas trip and, if he did, the period covered by the authorization.
Leviste reportedly departed the Philippines on August 2 with his mother, Senator Loren Legarda. Information from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) indicated that the two were later traced to Germany.
Their departure took place amid controversies involving the lawmakers and their respective families. The NBI is reportedly preparing a qualified human trafficking complaint against Leviste and former Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras over an alleged plan to stage a “honey trap” operation against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
Legarda has also faced scrutiny over her son’s business interests following allegations that a solar power company failed to deliver on a government contract.
Ortega said the Ethics Committee could take up the matter if Leviste’s continued absences are found to have no legitimate justification. However, he said he has yet to receive any update regarding the congressman’s situation.