MANILA — The son of Sen. Loren Legarda, Batangas 1st District’s Cong. Leandro Leviste, posted bail through a representative after a Makati court issued a warrant against him over a case accusing him of alleged violation of the Public Service Act involving Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC), with authorities saying the lawmaker is currently believed to be in France where his mother is undergoing treatment for a medical condition.
“Nag-bail siya. I received an order from the court that nag-cash bail siya. May pinadalang representative, including ‘yung mga co-accused niya,” said Director Melvin Matibag of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday afternoon.
The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 issued the arrest warrant on October 5 and set bail at P72,000, according to a copy obtained by law enforcement authorities.
Presiding Judge Ricardo A. Moldez II signed the warrant, which stemmed from an alleged violation of Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659, or the Public Service Act.
The court ordered authorities to take Leviste into custody and bring him before the court for appropriate proceedings.
“Technically he’s now under the jurisdiction of the court, the RTC of Makati, and I understand that he is booked for arraignment on October 26,” said Matibag.
Copies of the warrant were furnished to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management in Camp Crame and other appropriate police authorities.
The NBI confirmed earlier on Wednesday that it had received a copy of the arrest warrant but said information available to authorities indicated that Leviste was outside the Philippines.
“Ang impormasyon po natin hanggang sa ngayon ay nasa abroad,” Matibag said.
The NBI said it would coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to verify Leviste’s immigration status and whereabouts and with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding possible action involving his passport.
Matibag said authorities could also seek assistance from the House of Representatives in canceling Leviste’s travel authority.
The NBI, however, said it had no information on when the congressman would return to the Philippines.
Leviste was reportedly in France as of September 25 to attend to his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, who is on medical leave. Legarda’s spokesperson, lawyer Tony La Viña, had earlier disclosed Leviste’s whereabouts.
The case arose from a complaint filed by the Department of Energy (DOE) with the Department of Justice in May against Leviste and five other SPBC officials over alleged violations of the company’s obligations under its congressional franchise.
The DOE alleged that SPBC failed to establish facilities and supply electricity to customers in remote, unviable, unserved or underserved areas covered by its 2019 franchise under Republic Act No. 11357.
Leviste was identified in the complaint as SPBC’s chairman, president, chief executive officer and director.
Also named were Antonio C. Legarda Sr., Benjamin C. Legarda, Antonio B. Legarda Jr., Irma C. Flaminiano and Hazel Iris P. Lafuente, who also served as corporate secretary and treasurer.
Leviste had earlier rejected the DOE’s allegations, describing the complaint as weak and warning that it could set a precedent for similar cases against public utility officials./PN
