PuLITIKA at hindi ebidensya umano ang nagtutulak sa mga plunder at graft complaint laban kay Sen. Loren Legarda at sa anak niyang si Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste kaugnay ng mga solar energy project, ayon sa kanilang spokesperson at abogado na si Atty. Tony La Viña.
Iginiit ni La Viña na nasa preliminary investigation stage pa lamang ang mga reklamo sa Office of the Ombudsman at wala pang formal charge na inihahain sa korte laban sa mag-ina.
“After intensive review, I am convinced that she and her son have absolutely not done anything illegal and even improper with respect to the solar energy business of the latter,” ani La Viña.
“At worst, Leandro has been innovative and out-of-the-box as an entrepreneur. That should be rewarded, not punished.”
Mariin din niyang itinanggi na may papel si Legarda sa Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC) o iba pang Solar Philippines companies.
“The Senator does not own, run, or take part in Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC) or any Solar Philippines company. There are no corporate documents showing her as a shareholder, officer, or beneficiary,” ani La Viña.
“Responsibility is personal,” dagdag niya. “Senator Legarda should not be shielded from scrutiny because Leviste is her son. But neither should motherhood become evidence against her.”
Ayon kay La Viña, magkahiwalay na usapin ang SPBC at iba pang Solar Philippines entities, gayundin ang congressional franchise at renewable energy service contracts.
“SPBC is one corporation. Other Solar Philippines companies are separate entities. A congressional franchise is different from a renewable energy service contract. Both a service contract and a franchise are not given government funds,” paliwanag niya.
Sinabi rin niyang non-exclusive ang franchise ng SPBC, walang government subsidy at hindi bumoto si Legarda sa pagpasa nito. Ayon sa kanya, hindi rin naibenta ang franchise at hindi ito ganap na naipatupad dahil hindi naglabas ang Department of Energy (DOE) ng implementing rules at hindi natukoy ang mga lugar kung saan ito maaaring mag-operate.
Dinepensahan din ni La Viña si Leviste laban sa alegasyong may wrongdoing sa kanyang solar ventures.
“Leandro introduced new ideas and approaches to fast-track the energy transition, and there may have been policy gaps that prevented the successful implementation of some of those ideas. But that is not a criminal act. He should be praised, not punished, for that,” ani La Viña.
Iginiit din niyang hindi napinsala ang gobyerno dahil sa solar businesses ni Leviste at nakapag-ambag ang mga ito ng karagdagang solar power sa energy mix ng bansa.
Iniugnay naman ni La Viña ang pinaigting na scrutiny kay Leviste sa anti-corruption campaign ng kongresista na nagsimula noong huling bahagi ng 2025.
“The timing speaks for itself,” sabi niya, sabay tawag dito na “classic lawfare, the weaponization of the law for political purposes.”
“What is going on is clearly political persecution,” giit ni La Viña. “It has always been wrong. And it must stop now.” /Bistado