Leviste to return home, post P72K bail personally, says spokesperson
Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste plans to return to the Philippines and personally face the court to post bail following the arrest warrant issued against him, his spokesperson said Thursday.
Speaking on GMA News' Unang Balita, Atty. Tony La Viña confirmed that the lawmaker, currently in France with his mother Senator Loren Legarda, intends to face the case directly.
“Oo. In general ang sagot ko, sa kaso kasi medyo subjudice na kasi 'yan. Pero ang masasabi ko lang ay actually napakaliit ng kaso na ito. Tulad ng sinabi niya, this is a very small case,” La Viña said.
(Yes. My answer to the case is in general because it is somewhat subjudice. But all I can say is that this case is actually very small. As he said, this is a very small case.)
“Almost insignificant. Bailable by 72,000 bail, very small penalty at lahat. So, in the scheme of things hindi naman ito ganun ka-importante from his point of view. Kaya naglabas nga siya ng statement na not to worry about him hindi naman siya abala dito hindi siya worried about this case,” he added.
(Almost insignificant. Bailable by 72,000 bail, very small penalty and all, so in the scheme of things, it's not that important from his point of view. That's why he released a statement saying not to worry about him, he's not worried about this case.)
When will Leviste return to the Philippines?
La Viña said Leviste has concrete plans to come home, but only after his mother's medical treatment is complete. Legarda has been on medical leave since August 3.
“Of course. I mean, eventually, uuwi naman yan siya kasama ng nanay niya,” he said.
(Of course. I mean, eventually, he will go home with his mother.)
“Right now lang talaga, kailangan siya ng nanay niya for the medical treatment of her mother. So, as far as I know, once tapos na yun. Uwi na siya. He is the only family of the mother,” he added.
(Right now, his mother really needs him for her medical treatment. So, as far as I know, once that's done, he will go home. He is the only family of his mother.)
What about the passport and INTERPOL red notice?
La Viña said Leviste would challenge any attempt to cancel his passport. He also downplayed the possibility of an INTERPOL red notice, saying it typically applies only to very serious crimes.
“From what I know, hindi siya applicable kasi (it is not applicable because) that applies only to very serious crimes,” La Viña said.
Is the case politically motivated?
La Viña maintained that the case against Leviste is part of what he described as harassment or persecution against the lawmaker, linking the cases to Leviste's campaign against alleged corruption in flood-control projects.
The lawyer also defended Leviste's renewable-energy businesses, saying there was no wrongdoing in his solar franchise and service contracts. He explained that the solar franchise was not implemented because the Department of Energy (DOE) had yet to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations (IRR) and identify operational locations.
As for the service contracts, La Viña said some had been implemented while others had not, which he described as normal in the renewable-energy business.
What is the case about?
A Makati court issued the arrest warrant against Leviste over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, with bail set at P72,000.
The DOE filed a complaint in May with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Leviste and five officials of the Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC) for alleged violations of the same act. The complaint claims the firm failed to construct and provide electric power to customers in remote, unviable, unserved, or underserved areas as provided under the company's 2019 franchise, which Congress granted under Republic Act No. 11357.
The complaint identified Leviste as the firm's chairman, president, chief executive officer, and director. Leviste has denied the allegations.
La Viña said he had no information on whether Leviste would return ahead of or together with Legarda.
With reports from Joviland Rita, GMA News