The Office of the Ombudsman has raised alarm over the timing of Senator Loren Legarda and Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s departure from the country while facing plunder and graft complaints.
“We are flagging yung kanilang biyahe at this point in time dahil it’s really very suspicious na nandyan po sila at meron po tayong kaso rito na kailangan sumagot na sila, kailangan mag-appear na sila , at ‘yun pa yung time na lumabas sila ng bansa,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a press briefing.
Clavano questioned Legarda’s repeated medical leave requests. “Kung talagang mayroon siyang (Legarda) serious illness sana isa lang ang hiningi niya na medical leave, hindi yung pa -extend-extend,” he remarked.
The Ombudsman stressed that the lawmakers’ conduct must be scrutinized, especially since the cases involve unfulfilled solar power contracts of Leviste’s company that allegedly burdened Filipinos with higher electricity costs.
“We have to flag that kind of behavior, yung mga kaso po natin nakakaapekto sa mga buhay ng taumbayan. ‘Yung price po ng electricity tumaas dahil sa unfulfilled promises ng franchise na iyon. A lot of allocations for solar power was given to this company and yet hindi nila nagawa,” Clavano explained.
“Ngayon nararamdaman po ng taumbayan ‘yung hirap at ‘yung pagtaas ng presyo ng kuryente,” he added, insisting that the mother and son must face and answer the charges. # (ZIA LUNA)
