Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KD9gmM-bsxQ" title="LIVE: Batangas 1st Dist. Rep. Leandro Leviste holds press briefing | January 16" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>(<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste filed on Friday a civil complaint for libel against Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro over her statements on a solar energy company Leviste founded.</p><p>In the complaint filed before the Balayan, Batangas Regional Trial Court, Leviste tagged as “untrue, reckless, and malicious” Castro’s claims on her vlog that Leviste sold a company holding a government franchise, and Castro’s alleged insinuation that the lawmaker “flipped” the franchise without the required Congressional approval. Leviste asserted that the company he sold has no franchise.</p><p>“Hindi ko po ibinenta ang prangkisa… Ang ibinenta kong kumpanya ay walang prangkisa,” he told the media.</p><p>“Hindi ko naman po nais na masaktan si Usec. Claire Castro ngunit kailangan ko lang pong depensahan ang aking pangalan, dahil naka ilang vlog na po siya tungkol sa akin,” Leviste added.</p><p>He is seeking P100 million for moral damages, P10 million for exemplary damages, and P1 million in attorney’s fees. If the court rules in his favor, Leviste said he plans to give the amount to victims of substandard flood control projecrts.</p><p>Leviste’s lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, alleged that Castro’s claims are part of a “targeted attack” against his client, who has been vocal in critcizing the government’s infrastructure budget.</p><p>“Ito ay hindi lamang exercise ng freedom of expression. This is a targeted attack against Cong. Leviste for being a critic of the government,” Topacio said.</p><p>“Ito po ay under the civil code, na ang principle po nito ay kung ikaw ay may ginawang isang bagay na naka-injure ng isang tao, ng kapwa tao mo, you are liable to pay for damages. Hindi po nais ipakulong si Usec. Claire Castro, ngunit gusto namin siyang panagutin. Unang-una, sapagkat may ginawa siyang mali, sa aming opinyon, at pangalawa to vindicate ‘yung good name and reputation of my client na sinira po niya with malice,” he added.</p><p>In a statement, Castro asserted that her statements were based on the pronouncements of the Ombudsman and Leviste, himself. </p><p>She believes the libel complaint is an effort to silence her.</p><p>“Ang pagsasampa ng kasong ito ang tunay na paraan para ako ay matigil sa aking pagsasalita at pagtalakay sa mga issue. </p><p>Ito ngayon ang tanong: Sino ang tunay na nasa likod ng pagsasampa ng kaso laban sa ’kin? Sino ang nais na mabusalan ang aking bibig? Sino ang lubos na makikinabang dito?” Castro said in a statement.</p><p>“…Ang source ng di umano&#x27;y pagbebenta ng company na may franchise ay galing kay Ombudsman Remulla. Pero hindi niya sasampahan ng kaso ang Ombudsman dahil sa ginagalang niya ito at kaibigan ng nanay niya. Kakasuhan ba niya ako dahil sa hindi ako kaibigan ng nanay niya at hindi niya ako ginagalang? Can we say that the statements of the Ombudsman are with basis and not maligning while my statements sourced from the Ombudsman are nothing but libelous?” she added.</p><p>“Sumagot nalang si Usec. Claire Castro sa korte, dahil may kaso na kami,” Leviste replied.</p><p>The Batangas solon divested his shares in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) before assuming office in the 20th Congress. SPNEC is a separate and distinct corporate entity from Solar Para sa Bayan – which secured a 25-year fresh franchise in 2019.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;IPSO FACTO REVOKED?&#x27;</strong></div><p>Leviste claimed that Solar Para sa Bayan’s franchise has been “ipso facto revoked” in 2022, and the company has “ceased” operations, because it was not granted permits to operate.</p><p>He cited a provision in the law granting the firm’s franchise, which states that the “franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event that the grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years”. </p><p>“Wala nang prangkisa ang Solar Para sa Bayan… Nag-sarado na po ang operations ng Solar Para sa Bayan. Defunct po ang negosyo nito,” Leviste said.</p><p>“May dalawang probisyon ang prangkisa. Una, para mag-operate, kailangan ng impementing rules and regulations… Walang inilabas na IRR ang DOE. Pangalawa, ang franchise ay nakalagay naman na kung hindi mag-o-operate for two years, ito ay ipso facto revoked. So tumigil po ang operations ng kumpanya noong 2022 dahil hindi pa nabigyan siya ng permits to operate. Kaya within two years of that, maaari nating sabihin na ipso facto revoked na… Wala nang prangkisa ang kumpanyang ito,” he added.</p><p>“Dagdag ko din po na ang Kongreso ay nag-apruba din ng isang general law noong 2022 din na may repealing and amendatory clause na nakasaad na ang mga legislative franchise na may kaugnayan sa batas na ‘yun ay thereby repealed or amended.</p><p>At nakalagay po sa general law na ito na ang mga kumpanya sa sektor na ‘yun ay hindi nangangailangan ng prangkisa. Ang kinalabasan po ng batas na ‘yun ay walang saysay, wala nang bisa ang prangkisa na ibinigay sa kumpanya ko noong 2019,” Leviste noted.</p><p>But he noted that he showed “good faith” in securing the franchise, and denied taking advantage of it.</p><p>“I showed good faith by investing hundreds of millions of pesos into the business that was eventually not given permits to operate and I stopped the operation of the business to be exceedingly careful in complying with the law,” Leviste said.</p><p>“Out of exceeding caution at dahil nire-respeto natin ang batas, itinigil namin ang operasyon, hindi na nga gumawa ng kuryente. Ang laki po ng lugi ko</p><p>sa investment na yun. At ang lumalabas, sinabi nila, gumawa ako ng pera at labag pa sa batas. Kabaligtaran nga. Nalugi ako, dahil ako ay nag-comply sa batas,” he added.</p><p>Leviste tagged as “not true” the claims that the solar energy firm he founded was only able to deliver around 2% of the capacity it committed to produce.</p><p>The lawmaker noted that he is “not fully informed” about the P24 billion fines imposed by the Department of Energy on the firm he founded, saying he was not involved in its operations.</p><p>“Hindi din po totoo na hindi po ako nang de-deliver sa aking mga kontrata.</p><p>Binenta ko po ang aking kumpanya at yung may-ari ng aking kumpanya, majority stake ngayon, ay nagpapatakbo ng aking kumpanya at matagumpay po ito kasi ito nga po ay pinupuri ng administrasyon,” Leviste said/</p><p>While he admitted to still owning Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings, Inc.,  Leviste asserted this has been disclosed and is not in violation of the law or the Constitution, even when he is a sitting congressman.</p><p>“Walang paglabag ang ownership ng financial interests ko sa Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings na may interest nga sa DOE service contracts. Walang issue. Wala pong paglabag. Hindi rin ako involved sa operations ng kumpanya na may dealings sa DOE,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;THREATS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Leviste has received an invitation to attend the resumption on Monday of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on alleged flood control anomalies.</p><p>Asked whether he will attend, Leviste said he wants to if he will be allowed to go. The congressman was emotional as he claimed there are “threats” against him due to the files he holds on the government’s infrastructure projects.</p><p>“Bakit ako maaaring hindi makarating sa Blue Ribbon Committee hearing kahit ako ay nakatanggap na ng imbitasyon? Dahil maraming nagsasabi na ‘wag kang magsalita, at baka kung ano pa ang mangyari sayo. (teary eyed) Kaya ang files na hawak ko ay nasa mga USB, at kung may mangyari man sa akin, lalabas ang buong files na hawak ko. Kaya makakaasa ang publiko na malalaman nila nag katotohanan patungkol sa budget ng DPWH at sa mga proyekto ng DPWH kahit may mangyari sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin bago mag-Blue Ribbon Committee hearing,” Leviste said.</p><p>“There are really threats to me right now. Dahil, baka noon hindi alam ng iba, ang ibang hawak ko maliban sa Cabral files. Ang lumabas na sa media ay tip of the iceberg po lamang. (12:09) Basta huwag nyo akong patayin. Dahil kung papatayin nyo ako, lalabas ang buong katotohanan ng mga ginawa ninyo sa DPWH,” he added.</p><p>“I don&#x27;t receive most of the threats directly…. Yung nanay ko yung kinakausap dahil kung tatawagan nila ako, papangalanan ko sila. At ang karamihan ng mga threats ay tungkol sa kaso. Hindi naman napapatayin ako. Pero ang pinapahiwatig ay, sasabihin ko na lang, ang buong gobyerno daw ay aatake sa akin kung ako po ay magsasalita,” Leviste noted.</p><p>“At hindi po totoo na umiyak ako sa aking ina. Baka mas totoo po na ang aking ina yung umiyak. Hindi po karakter ko na umiyak sa aking ina. Baka umiyak ako sa mga interviews nyo kasi ang mga katanungan ay tungkol sa aking ina. Dahil actually, yung ikinalulungkot ko ay the fact na yung aking ina ay nasa stress dahil sa akin,” he said.</p><div><iframe width="729" height="410" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rH217n1GT0c" title="DOE chief explains why Leviste’s solar firm contracts were canceled | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Earlier this week, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Solar Philippines failed to produce the power it committed to deliver within the agreed timeline. This prompted the agency to cancel several contracts with the firm and impose a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/14/doe-fines-leviste-s-solar-philippines-p24-b-for-failed-commitments-1151">P24-billion penalty.</a></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/energy-chief-says-action-vs-leviste-firm-not-related-to-cabral-files-1055">&#x27;It&#x27;s so unfair&#x27;: DOE chief says fine, contract termination vs Leviste firm unrelated to &#x27;Cabral files&#x27;</a></div><p>Leviste claimed on Wednesday that the company he founded “built” the “highest” renewable energy capacity in the country.</p><p>His statement did not directly address Garin’s claim, but the lawmaker said he would respond to the statement issued by government agencies “at the proper forum”.</p><p>“Iginagalang ko ang mga kawani ng gobyerno at tutugon ako sa kanilang mga pahayag sa tamang forum,” Leviste said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/14/leviste-defends-firm-after-p24-b-fine-1520">Leviste defends firm after P24-B fine</a></div><p>“Ang kompanyang itinatag ko ay nakapagtayo ng pinakamalaking kapasidad ng renewable energy sa bansa at nakapagdala ng pinakamalaking foreign investment sa Pilipinas noong 2025. Kaunti ang namumuhunan sa ating bansa ngayon dahil sa pananaw na ginigipit ang mga negosyante,” he said.</p><p>“Wala akong nakuhang kahit piso mula sa gobyerno. Ang aking pera ay nagmula sa pribadong negosyo,” Leviste added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/leviste-confirms-seeking-meeting-with-lacson-denies-crying-to-mom-1833">Leviste confirms seeking meeting with Lacson, denies &#x27;crying&#x27; to mom</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J4I53nN0ysw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wKEVvP03Twc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste filed Friday a libel complaint against Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro over her remarks on a solar energy company founded by the lawmaker.</p>

Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste filed Friday a libel complaint against Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro over her remarks on a solar energy company founded by the lawmaker.

Leviste files libel complaint vs Palace’s Castro

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Leviste files libel complaint vs Palace’s Castro

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 16, 2026 10:04 AM PHT

|

Updated January 31, 2026 04:19 PM PHT

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Leviste

Leandro Leviste

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Claire Castro

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