Senator Loren Legarda has prolonged her absence from official duties, keeping her away from Senate plenary sessions and the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte through September 2.
On Monday, August 24, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug confirmed receiving formal notice regarding Legarda’s extended medical leave, which covers August 24–26 and September 1–2.
This marks her fourth medical leave request, following earlier leaves granted for August 3–5, August 11–12, and August 17–19.
According to reports, Legarda departed for France on August 2. The departure occurred shortly before the Office of the Ombudsman revealed that the senator and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, were under preliminary investigation for alleged graft and plunder linked to supposedly fraudulent solar projects valued at ₱10 billion.
Legarda has denied any wrongdoing regarding the allegations, dismissing them as “utterly false” and “baseless”.