MANILA, Philippines – Pinasasagot ng Office of the Ombudsman si Senador Loren Legarda at anak nitong si Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste sa reklamong plunder at graft na inihain laban sa kanila kaugnay sa bigong pagbibigay ng kompanya ni Leviste ng solar power na nakasaad sa congressional franchise nito.
Kasabay nito ay kinwestyon din ni Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano ang extended medical leave ni Legarda dahil sa karamdaman, batay sa anunsyo ni Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.
“There was already an order to file a counter-affidavit,” sinabi ni Clavano.
“Kung talagang meron siyang serious illness, sana isa lang po yung hiningi niya na medical leave, hindi yung pa-extend-extend. And that is the only reason why the Office of the Ombudsman had to flag that type of pattern. If you are out of the country, it adds to the speculation or adds to the suspicion of the Office of the Ombudsman,” dagdag pa nito.
“Electricity prices went up due to unfulfilled promises of that franchise, and a lot of the allocations for solar power were given to this company, and yet they were not able to deliver. The public is feeling the brunt of their decision,” pagpapatuloy ni Clavano.
“Sana po ay manatili muna kayo dito sa bansa para po medyo maliwanagan po tayo doon sa nangyari at maliwanagan din ang taong-bayan sa katotohanan.”
Bago ang imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman ay naghain na ng reklamo ang Department of Energy (DOE) laban kay Leviste at lima pang opisyal ng Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC) dahil sa mga umano’y paglabag sa Public Service Act.
Sa naunang pahayag sa imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman, sinabi ni Legarda na “All my public life since 1998, I have always upheld my integrity, which I value dearly. This baseless allegation is a smear on my person that is totally undeserved.”
“We have not received any communication from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the reported preliminary investigation, but I can categorically state that the reported accusations are utterly false and baseless. No public funds were involved. We are prepared to bring out the truth,” dagdag pa niya.
Hinimok niya ang publiko na maging mapagmasid “especially in light of the timing and nature of these allegations.”
Si Legarda ay naka-medical leave mula pa noong Agosto 3 at pinalawig ang leave hanggang sa unang linggo ng Setyembre. RNT/JGC
