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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Legarda refutes Ombudsman's 'suspicions,' says she's on medical leave

Legarda refutes Ombudsman's 'suspicions,' says she's on medical leave

Published Aug 18, 2026 07:59 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday, August 18 rejected the Office of the Ombudsman's move to question her absences saying she filed a medical leave with the Senate, and in accordance with the Upper Chamber's rules.


Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday, August 18 rejected the Office of the Ombudsman’s move to question her absences saying she filed a medical leave with the Senate, and in accordance with the Upper Chamber’s rules.

Senator Loren Legarda (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Loren Legarda (Senate PRIB photo)

“I have served our country with utmost dedication and integrity for more than three decades. I will not allow baseless accusations to trample on my unblemished record of public service,” Legarda said in a statement.

“I have filed a medical leave with the Senate, in accordance with Senate rules,” she stressed.

Earlier, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Mico Clavano said that the agency has considered as “suspicious” the two-month travel authority secured by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste and the extended medical leave of his mother, Sen. Legarda.

“We were able to obtain a travel authority wherein he asked for two months of leave no from July 26 to September 24. He listed several countries that he would want to or he intended to visit. On the other hand, Senator Loren Legarda is on her I believe third extension of her travel authority for medical reasons, which we have begun to find quite suspicious already,” Clavano said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“We need to flag this because there is an ongoing case (investigation) here in the Office of the Ombudsman,” Clavano added.

Clavano is referring to the ongoing investigation by the Ombudsman into the alleged P10-billion plunder and graft complaints due to the failure of Leviste’s renewable energy firm to deliver solar power resources as provided under its congressional franchise.

Besides this, the Department of Energy (DOE) also filed a complaint against Leviste and five officials of the Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged violations of the Public Service Act.

But Legarda refuted this saying she has never committed anything unlawful.

“Neither I nor anyone else deserves to be subjected to unfounded accusations over the exercise of one’s legal rights. I have committed absolutely no wrongdoing,” she said.

Legarda further asked the public to be discerning as she questioned the timing of the filing of the cases against her and her son.

“I urge the public to be discerning, especially in light of the timing and nature of these false allegations. I remain confident that once the facts come out, we will be vindicated,” she said.

Related Tags

Loren Legarda Solar Para sa Bayan Leandro Legarda Leviste Ombudsman
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