The Office of the Ombudsman sought a preliminary investigation of Senator Loren Legarda and her son Batangas 1st distict Rep. Leandro Leviste for plunder and graft over alleged abuse of legislative and regulatory powers in securing solar energy contracts, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said on Friday, July 31.

Remulla added that former Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi is included in the charge sheet, along with several other individuals.

During a press briefing at the OMB Central Office, Remulla alleged that Leviste’s company failed to make good on its commitment to produce electricity, which he claimed caused “hundreds of billions” of pesos in losses to the government and the Filipino people.

“Diba mayroon tayong mga ghost projects na tinitira, dito ghost electricity. Pangako nila, magpro-produce sila ng kuryente, sa Philippine Energy Plan nakalimbag ang dapat production ng solar, pero hindi nila ginawa (We often go after ghost projects. Here, it’s ‘ghost electricity.’ They promised they would produce electricity. The Philippine Energy Plan clearly specifies the required solar power production, but they did not do it),” he said.

According to Remulla, the contracts at the center of the complaints were worth at least P10 billion.

“Iyong kay Leandro Leviste, mabigat na kaso kasi ’yung kanilang pagkahawak ng ekslusibo sa solar ay talagang nagdulot ng damage sa ating Republika sapagkat hindi naman sila tumupad sa kanilang dapat tuparin at hindi nila ginawa ’yung dapat nilang gawin. Malinaw na malinaw ‘yung kaso na ang kanilang ginawa ay labag sa batas (Leandro Leviste’s case is serious because their exclusive control over solar projects caused damage to the Republic. They failed to fulfill what they were supposed to do. It is very clear that what they did was against the law),” he said.

The Ombudsman further claimed that Filipinos suffered substantial losses because what he described as Leviste’s “solar empire” was eventually sold instead of delivering electricity projects.

Remulla added that the exclusive service contracts effectively prevented other Filipinos and investors from participating in the solar energy sector.

“Parang sila ang naging nagmamay-ari ng araw, to the exclusion of other Filipinos, and other investors (It was as if they had become the owners of the sun, to the exclusion of other Filipinos and other investors),” he said.

The Ombudsman likewise alleged that Legarda used her position as then chairperson of the Senate Finance Committee to help her son secure the “exclusive franchise.”

“Kay Loren, hindi naman makukuha ng 21-year-old Leandro ’yung prangkisa na exclusive kung hindi tinulungan ng nanay niya na chairman noon ng Finance Committee ng Senado. Parang Appropriations ’yan ng House, Finance Committee ng Senado. At ginamit niya ’yung kanyang posisyon para makakuha ng prangkisa ’yung anak niya (As for Loren, 21-year-old Leandro would not have obtained the exclusive franchise if he had not been helped by his mother, who was then chair of the Senate Finance Committee. She used her position to help her son secure the franchise),” Remulla said.

As of posting time, Leviste and Legarda had yet to issue separate statements on the matter. The Manila Bulletin will publish their responses once they become available.