Former Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza dropped bombshell claims against solar entrepreneur and Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, son of Sen. Loren Legarda, saying his Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPSB) franchise bid was pushed through Congress despite glaring deficiencies.
“Nakita ko po yung mga application papers, isang milyong piso lang puhunan ng kanyang korporasyon eh immediately I objected. Ito ba ay biro, nag-a-apply na magbigay ng elektrisidad sa buong Pilipinas ang puhunan ng kompanya ay isang milyon? Kaya agad binasura ko,” Atienza told Agenda on Bilyonaryo News channel.
Atienza said the papers were later amended to show ₱1 billion capitalization but questioned, “Saan kumuha ng isang bilyon si Leandro Leviste, hindi pa siya kongresista noon?”
He alleged Sen. Legarda personally lobbied for her son’s franchise in a meeting at Manila Polo Club in front of former Antique Gov. Sally Perez.
“Ako mismo kinausap ng senadora… Ako’y hiningan niya ng meeting, nagpulong kami sa Manila Polo Club at doon kami nag-usap. Kaibigan ko naman si senadora kaya pumayag ako magkape ako. Pero nung pinag-usapan na ang prangkisa, hindi nagbago ang posisyon ko. Your son is not qualified to receive national franchise.”
Atienza said even former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo urged him to relent: “Pagbigyan mo na si Loren, Lito. Kaibigan natin yan.” But he stood firm: “I’m doing this for the nation, for the people at wala po akong personal na galit.”
He claimed Congress eventually approved the franchise despite opposition from veteran solar providers, prompting him to insert a safeguard clause.
“They continue campaigning on the floor, marami silang nakombinse. Nang makita ko na maaprobahan na yung erroneous appreciation of the application of a young man with no experience in solar energy and no money, no capitalization that will support his promises, pinilit ko yung clause. Hindi puwedeng ibenta ang prangkisang ito,” Atienza stated.
“Kapag ito’y nakuha ninyo, igigiit ko, lalagyan natin ng provision na hindi puwedeng ibenta ‘yan lalung-lalo na sa mga banyaga pagka’t kontrang-kontra po tayo dyan. Energy should be Philippine owned kahit sa local corporation, hindi puwedeng ibenta po yan. Pumayag naman ‘yung mga sponsor kaya nasingit ko ang provision na mawawalan ng bisa ang prangkisa kung ibebenta ni Leviste,” he added.
But Atienza alleged Leviste’s group violated the provision.
“Binenta nila sa mga Koreano, tapos binenta sa Meralco, marami pang iba… Ang purpose talaga ay inegosyo yung papel kapag nakuha nila ang prangkisa.”
“Nagawa nila ang kanilang kagustuhan pero napatunayan naman na tama ang aking pagkontra sa simula’t simula.”
Atienza’s remarks surface as Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed an ongoing investigation into SPSB over alleged franchise breaches tied to the sale of SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) to business magnate Manny Pangilinan.(ZIA LUNA)
