Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has questioned the exclusive franchise granted to the company of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste for solar power projects, alleging connections to the Duterte administration and criticizing the arrangement as detrimental to the energy sector.
Speaking on Executive Session over DZRH, Remulla stressed that the country’s real problem is electricity, but instead of solutions, Leviste allegedly brought what he described as a “story of nonsense.”
“Kuryente ang problema natin, tapos maglalagay ka pa ng sinasabi nilang ‘genius’ na bata na ngayon gumawa ng istoryang kalokohan. Niloloko lang tayong lahat. Kasi may kakutsaba yan sa taas,” Remulla said.
Remulla added that Leviste did not fully understand his corporate structure and had ties to the previous administration.
“Hindi nga niya naiintindihan ang corporate structure nya eh. Sinong kasama niya, di ba may mga abogadong kausap nya? At may koneksyon yan sa taas noon. May koneksyon yan sa Duterte government, 2019 ang franchise. Kasama nanay nya sa naglakad nyan pero syempre kunyari arm’s length siya pero chairman ka ng budget, chairman ka ng finance committee, puwede bang wala?” Remulla said.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has slapped Leviste ₱24 billion for failing to deliver electricity which he was required to produce under 43 contracts, 33 of which were complete failures.
Remulla criticized the granting of an exclusive franchise to Leviste instead of opening the opportunity to multiple solar providers.
“Binigyan ka ng franchise — exclusive franchise pa, exclusive yan. Imbes na ibinid out mo sa 20 providers ng solar, binigay mo sa isa. Alam mo nakaapekto pa yan sa feed-in tariff,” he said.
As an example, Remulla cited companies in Cavite that installed solar panels on large rooftops but were denied feed-in tariff (FIT) incentives.
“For example, PEZA companies — we have an actual case in Cavite, 40 hectares of rooftop were fitted with solar panels, but they were denied FIT. Cusi delayed it again and again, they didn’t want to grant it because it was already allocated,” Remulla explained.
Alfonso Cusi served as Secretary of Energy during the Duterte administration. (RRN)
