Jamaine Punzalan

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<p>MANILA — Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGEN) clarified that it had invested in SP Energy Corporation (SPNEC) founded by Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, which is a &quot;separate and distinct corporate entity&quot; from Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC).</p><p>Over the weekend, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said an investigation was <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/11/ombudsman-remulla-probe-underway-into-possible-franchise-violations-by-leviste-s-solar-firm-1557">probing the alleged franchise violations</a> of Leviste&#x27;s solar energy firm. Remulla claimed that Leviste transferred the franchise without congressional approval. </p><p>&quot;MGEN did not acquire any share in SPBC, which was awarded congressional franchise thru Republic Act 11357 to construct and install and operate microgrids in remote areas,&quot; the company said in a statement.</p><p>It added that its investment in SPNEC &quot;did not violate any law or regulation&quot; and that the entry of MGEN in the publicly-listed entity had been scrutinized and approved by the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p><p>MGEN said that &quot;SPNEC&#x27;s business and operations are not dependent on the franchise mentioned.&quot;</p><p>MGEN Head for Sustainability, Corporate Communications and External Affairs Christer Gaudiano said &quot;we hope this clarified the issue and lays to rest the disinformation coming out especially in social media.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE PROBE? </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises may look into the alleged franchise violations if there is a resolution filed and referred to the panel, according to panel Vice Chairperson and Bataan First District Antonino Roman III.</p><p>But he said that as of Monday he was not aware of any such resolution seeking for an investigation in the lower chamber.</p><p>“I don’t know that any resolution was filed. I think it&#x27;s a ministerial function of members of the committee to actually investigate any matter that&#x27;s referred to the committee. So if there&#x27;s a resolution that was filed, then it behooves me to actually investigate it as a member of the committee… It&#x27;s a part of oversight,” Roman said.</p><p>“If there is such a prohibition, then it should’ve been honored. If it wasn’t honored, that is breach of contract… If there’s a breach, that is grounds for termination of the franchise,” he added.</p><p>Roman said he “would rather not speculate on the timing” of the issue. </p><p>“At the end of the day, motive is actually secondary. The question is really was there a violation or not…. It is often said, oh, it&#x27;s politically motivated. But the bigger question, is it true or not, di ba, regardless of the motivation. The fact that it&#x27;s politically motivated… doesn&#x27;t make it less meritorious. It doesn&#x27;t follow,” he said.</p><p>ABS-CBN News reached out to Leviste for comment, but he has yet to respond. He has shared MGEN’s statement on social media.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/17yBfzi3mzY" title="&#x27;Pumunta siya dito!&#x27; Remulla hinamon si Leviste | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="830" height="467" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DM9Yn0HmjGk" title="How did Leviste get hold of Cabral&#x27;s alleged list of project proponents? | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGEN) clarified that it had invested in SP Energy Corporation (SPNEC) founded by Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, which is a "separate and distinct corporate entity" from Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC).</p>

Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGEN) clarified that it had invested in SP Energy Corporation (SPNEC) founded by Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, which is a "separate and distinct corporate entity" from Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC).

MGEN says SPNEC 'separate, distinct' entity from Leviste's SPBC which has congressional franchise

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MGEN says SPNEC 'separate, distinct' entity from Leviste's SPBC which has congressional franchise

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 12, 2026 02:45 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 12, 2026 03:35 PM PHT

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Meralco

MGEN

SPNEC

SPBC

Leandro Leviste

Ombudsman

Remulla

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