By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has put Senator Loren Legarda’s repeated extensions of her foreign travel authority under a sharper spotlight, calling the prolonged medical leave “quite suspicious” as an investigation into alleged P10-billion graft and plunder involving the senator and her son, Rep. Leandro Leviste, continues.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said Tuesday that Legarda appeared to have secured a third or fourth extension of a travel authority originally granted for medical reasons.
The repeated extensions, he said, have raised concerns because an active case involving the senator is already before the Ombudsman.
“Sen. Loren Legarda is on her, I believe, third or fourth extension of her travel authority for medical reasons, which we have begun to find quite suspicious already,” Clavano said at a press briefing.
“We need to flag this because there is an ongoing case here in the Office of the Ombudsman,” he added.
The development comes as authorities continue examining allegations surrounding solar energy projects allegedly linked to Leviste’s renewable energy company.
The National Bureau of Investigation earlier reported that Legarda left for France while Leviste traveled separately to Hong Kong on Aug. 2.
Clavano said Leviste had also sought a two-month leave covering July 26 to Sept. 24 to travel to several countries.
The movements abroad came shortly after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed on July 31 that his office was investigating Legarda and Leviste over alleged graft and plunder amounting to around P10 billion.
The allegations stem from accusations that Leviste’s renewable energy company failed to deliver solar energy required under its legislative franchise.
Both lawmakers subsequently left the country.
Legarda, however, strongly rejected the insinuations surrounding her leave and said her medical absence was properly filed under Senate rules.
She accused critics of trying to cast suspicion on the exercise of a lawful right and insisted that her public record should not be damaged by allegations she described as baseless.
“I will not allow baseless accusations to trample on my unblemished record of public service,” Legarda said.
“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,” she added.
Legarda also urged the public to carefully assess the allegations, particularly their timing and nature.
“I urge the public to be discerning, especially in light of the timing and nature of these false allegations,” she said.
The senator maintained that the investigation would ultimately establish the facts and expressed confidence that she and Leviste would be vindicated.
“I remain confident that once the facts come out, we will be vindicated,” Legarda said.
With the Ombudsman investigation ongoing, the dispute over Legarda’s repeated travel extensions has added another layer of controversy to a case already involving allegations of massive public-sector wrongdoing and questions over the delivery of renewable energy projects.
ia/xf
