Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785480621037photo-collage.png (24) (7).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday they were set to file plunder and graft complaints for preliminary investigation against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Sen. Loren Legarda in relation to his solar firms. <em>Maria Tan &amp; Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday they were set to file plunder and graft complaints for preliminary investigation against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Sen. Loren Legarda in relation to his solar firms.  </p><p>The Department of Energy earlier this year said that Solar Philippines failed to produce the power it committed to deliver within an agreed timeline. This prompted the agency to cancel several contracts with the firm and impose a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/14/leviste-defends-firm-after-p24-b-fine-1520">P24-billion penalty.</a></p><p>In January, Leviste defended the firm’s track record by saying, “Ang kompanyang itinatag ko ay nakapagtayo ng pinakamalaking kapasidad ng renewable energy sa bansa at nakapagdala ng pinakamalaking foreign investment sa Pilipinas noong 2025.” </p><p>“Kaunti ang namumuhunan sa ating bansa ngayon dahil sa pananaw na ginigipit ang mga negosyante,” he said.</p><p>While Leviste admitted that some of his companies were not able to build any solar energy infrastructure, he also previously said this was allegedly the fault of the government.</p><p>&quot;That&#x27;s  the nature of the business na lahat naman po ng mga kumpanya na alam nyo ay nagpaplano, gusto sanang kumita para magtayo ng bagong planta. Pero dahil sa hirap ng pagnenegosyo sa Pilipinas, ginigipit nga ang ibang mamumuhunan ng mga opisyal. Lumabas hindi lang ako, buong industriya, hirap at kinakansela ang sariling mga proyekto,&quot; he said. </p><p>(That&#x27;s the nature of the business, that all companies plan to earn and set up plants. But because of the difficulty of doing business, some businessmen are pressured by some officials. It&#x27;s not just me, but the whole industry, due to difficulties, they are canceling their own projects.)</p><div><em>More details to follow.</em></div><div><em></em><a 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><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/21/industry-group-belies-leviste-claim-doe-not-helping-renewable-energy-players-1808">Industry group belies Leviste claim DOE not helping renewable energy players </a> <em></em></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/l61zzOAvxv8?&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/LIgFL47e_Vk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday they were set to file plunder and graft complaints for preliminary investigation against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Senator Loren Legarda in relation to his solar firms.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday they were set to file plunder and graft complaints for preliminary investigation against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Senator Loren Legarda in relation to his solar firms.

Ombudsman panel to seek preliminary probe vs Leandro Leviste, Loren Legarda over solar firms

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Ombudsman panel to seek preliminary probe vs Leandro Leviste, Loren Legarda over solar firms

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2026 02:43 PM PHT

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Updated July 31, 2026 02:51 PM PHT

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Ombudsman

Leandro Leviste

Loren Legarda

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