Camille Naredo

Sen. Loren Legarda during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, resumed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to hear National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag testify on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which covers the alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Lead House prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro presented Matibag before the impeachment court to testify on the ongoing investigation of the NBI Special Task Force formed to look into the threat against the President and the statements issued by Vice President Sara Duterte.
Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

RG Cruz

Kaxandra Salonga

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/178703585417820260722-senate-impeachment-day8-SSMU-WA-22.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Sen. Loren Legarda during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Loren Legarda during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. <em>Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span>MANILA (<strong>2nd U</strong><strong>PDATE</strong>) — Sen. Loren Legarda has extended her medical leave until August 19, 2026. </div><p>Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, Jr. told ABS-CBN News that Legarda&#x27;s office communicated the extension to his office.</p><p>&quot;SLL’s office sent me a letter yesterday informing that SLL shall be on medical from 17 to 19 Aug,&quot; he said. </p><p>Bantug said Legarda&#x27;s letter did not state her location, medical condition or any other details.  </p><p>Bantug noted that Legarda had been on leave from August 3 to 5  and 11 to 12.</p><p>A 2016 order by then Senate President Franklin Drilon removed the travel authority requirement for senators and the Senate Staff for personal overseas trips. Bantug said this remains in effect.</p><p>Legarda&#x27;s absence coincides with the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/ombudsman-panel-to-seek-preliminary-probe-vs-leandro-leviste-loren-legarda-over-solar-firms-1443">investigation</a> into plunder complaints against her and son Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste for the solar power franchise granted to his company.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/7/sen-legarda-son-rep-leviste-left-ph-early-august-bi-1345">Sen. Legarda, son Rep. Leviste left PH separately on Aug. 2—Immigration bureau</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SUSPICIOUS&#x27;</strong></div><p>The Office of the Ombudsman said that it finds Legarda&#x27;s repeated requests to extend her medical leave abroad &quot;quite suspicious,&quot; given the on-going investigation.</p><p>&quot;Si Sen. Loren Legarda is on her third or fourth extension for travel authority for medical reasons, which we have begun to find quite suspicious already,&quot; Assistant Ombudsman Atty. Mico Clavano said in a press briefing.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan namin i-flag yan dahil may ongoing case sa Ombudsman,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS</strong></div><p>Legarda, in a statement Tuesday, lashed out against the accusations against her.</p><p>&quot;I have served our country with utmost dedication and integrity for more than three decades,&quot; she said.  &quot;I will not allow baseless accusations to trample on my unblemished record of public service.&quot; </p><p>&quot;I have filed a medical leave with the Senate, in accordance with Senate rules. Neither I nor anyone else deserves to be subjected to unfounded accusations over the exercise of one’s legal rights. I have committed absolutely no wrongdoing,&quot; she added. </p><p>&quot;I urge the public to be discerning, especially in light of the timing and nature of these false allegations. I remain confident that once the facts come out, we will be vindicated,&quot; she said.</p><p>Legarda earlier dismissed as &quot;utterly false and baseless&quot; the claims which tagged her to a supposed solar contract scheme involving her son.</p><p>Leviste also denied that he profited from the sale of a congressional franchise for Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation, which he reportedly owns.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LEVISTE&#x27;S TRAVEL AUTHORITY</strong></div><p>Clavano said the Ombudsman has also obtained a travel authority showing that Leviste requested a two-month leave from July 26 to Sept. 24.</p><p>The Ombudsman expects both Legarda and Leviste to return to the Philippines. But Clavano said the agency is already &quot;taking concrete steps&quot; toward seeking the cancellation of their passports should they remain abroad for a prolonged period.</p><p>&quot;If there is a prolonged absence and we can consider them fugitives from justice, then that is the time we will move for the cancellation of their passports,&quot; Clavano said.</p><p>Asked about the possibility of Legarda and Leviste seeking asylum in France, Clavano said political persecution could be cited as a ground.</p><p>&quot;Possible na nag-seek ng asylum. However, the only ground that she [Legarda] would be using to seek her asylum is political persecution.&quot;</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yan lang po yung pwedeng gawing rason ni Sen. Loren Legarda and Leandro Leviste sa France kung gusto nila kumuha ng asylum,&quot; he added.</p><p>Political persecution is also the ground cited by fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co in seeking asylum in France, Malacañang said.</p><div><br/></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="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6vahqVGHsM4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

Loren Legarda extends medical leave

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Loren Legarda extends medical leave

RG Cruz,

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 18, 2026 10:32 AM PHT

|

Updated August 18, 2026 07:22 PM PHT

Read More:

Loren Legarda

medical leave

Senate

Ombudsman

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