Senator Loren Legarda vehemently denied plunder and graft allegations connected to a preliminary investigation initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman, calling the accusations “utterly false and baseless” while vowing to clear her name.
Legarda clarified that her camp has not yet received any official documentation from the Ombudsman regarding the probe, emphasizing that no public funds were involved in the issue.
”We have not received any communication from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the reported preliminary investigation but I can categorically state that the reported accusations are utterly false and baseless,” Legarda said in a statement.
”No public funds were involved. We are prepared to bring out the truth,” she added.
The veteran lawmaker raised concerns over the timing of the allegations and urged the public to examine the situation carefully.
”We urge the public to be discerning, especially in light of the timing and nature of these allegations. We remain confident that once the facts are laid bare, we will be vindicated and our names cleared,” she said.
”All my public life since 1998, I have always upheld my integrity, which I value dearly. This baseless allegation is a smear on my person that is totally undeserved,” Legarda emphasized.
The statement followed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s announcement on Friday that his office launched a preliminary investigation into Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and plunder.
Remulla stated that the complaint involves the alleged misuse of legislative and regulatory authority to secure solar energy contracts, naming former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and several others in the charge sheet.
He further claimed that Leviste’s company failed to deliver on its commitment to generate electricity, allegedly costing the government and consumers “hundreds of billions” of pesos.