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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Di tumupad sa usapan?': Leviste, 5 others face raps for alleged violation of franchise on PH solar energy

'Di tumupad sa usapan?': Leviste, 5 others face raps for alleged violation of franchise on PH solar energy

Published May 7, 2026 12:39 pm  |  Updated May 7, 2026 01:28 pm
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin
Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Antonio L. Leviste and five other fellow executives of the Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPSB/SPBC) are facing a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their alleged failure to meet the conditions of the legislative franchise granted to them in relation to providing renewable energy sources for the country.
Department of Energy (DOE) Sec. Sharon S. Garin filed before the DOJ on Wednesday May 6, the complaint which accused six respondents of violating Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Act, as amended.
In her complaint-affidavit, Garin named as respondents Leviste who is SPSB/SPBC chairman, president, chief executive officer, and director; and other directors of the corporation, namely, Antonio C. Legarda Sr., Benjamin C. Legarda, Antonio B. Legarda Jr., Irma C. Flaminiano, and Hazel Iris P. Lafuerto who is also the corporate secretary and treasurer.
Based on the complaint, the DOE said it did not receive any application for permit to comply with the conditions set in the legislative franchise. The DOE approves infrastructure projects relating to energy sources. 
In the case of the SPSB/SPBC, the complaint cited the supposed infrastructure for solar energy in Occidental Mindoro. 
“As evidenced by the Certification issued by the DOE, it has no record or receipt of any application by SPSB/SPBC for permits, licenses, approvals, authorization, or similar regulatory consents to fulfill its obligation under RA 11357, other than an application for a Solar Energy Contract for the Paluan Solar Project located in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro, for which the DOE has no records of a signed SESC (Solar Energy Service Contract), nor of any record of submissions by SPSB/SPBC indicating that it is actually implementing SESC.," Garin said.
"The DOE also has no record of receipt of any submission by SPSB/SPBC of reportorial requirements mandated pursuant to DOE policies consistent with the provisions of RA No. 9136, or the ‘Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001’ (EPIRA) and RA 11357,” she added.
Garin pointed out that Republlic Act (RA) No. 11357, which was enacted on July 31, 2019 and granted nonexclusive legislative franchise to SPSB/SPBC for 25 years, provides that “the franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event that the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.”
“Clearly, there is no gainsaying that SPSB/SPBC, through its board of directors and corporate officers, knowingly and willfully negelcted, failed, and omitted to perform the services it is obligated to render under RA No. 11357. Such failure to operate gives rise to liability under Public Service Act, independent of the consequence of revocation under the franchise,” she stated.
Under Section 4 of RA No. 11357, Garin said “the DOE the authority to detemine the remote, unviable, unserved, and underserved areas, in accordance with the legislative franchise.”
Also, she said that, under the RA No. 11357, SPSB/SPBC shall secure from the DOE “the necessary permits and licenses for construction and operation of the distributed energy resources or microgrids.”
However, the DOE chief said that up to now “no application whatsover has been lodged by SPSB/SPBC, nor has any been filed regarding its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise.”
Garin explained that securing of the required certificate, licenses, and permits from the DOE, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and other government agencies having jurisdiction over its operation is “a prerequisite to the lawful conduct of operation under Section 4 of RA No. 11357.”

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Leandro Leviste Solar Energy DOE DOJ
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