Legarda, Leviste Left The Country – NBI Chief

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the country for France with his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, before the National Bureau of Investigation served him a subpoena over the alleged honey trap plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Matibag said immigration records showed Leviste and Legarda departed the country separately on Aug. 2 via Hong Kong but were both bound for France.

“The office confirms the departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Leandro Leviste in separate flights last Aug. 2. Both had no derogatory records at the time of departure,” the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said. 

“He left the country. That has been confirmed. He and Senator Legarda traveled separately through Hong Kong, but their final destination was France,” Matibag told True FM.

He said the NBI issued Leviste’s subpoena on Aug. 3, a day after his departure, although the bureau had already publicly announced on Aug. 1 that subpoenas would be sent to Leviste and former lawmaker Jacinto Paras.

Matibag said the evidence against Leviste as the alleged brains in the honey trap is “as strong as Superman.”

Leviste and Legarda are also under probe by the Office of the Ombudsman over “ghost electricity” involving his solar power franchise.

Matibag noted that despite being abroad, Leviste was able to engage legal counsel, who wrote the NBI requesting copies of the evidence against the lawmaker. 

“Their lawyer essentially asked to see all the evidence so they could prepare their response. But this is still a fact-finding investigation. We are not yet at the stage of filing charges,” Matibag said.

He said the bureau wanted Leviste and Paras to personally explain the allegations, adding that doing so could also help clear their names if they were not involved.

The NBI has refused to release its evidence, citing Department of Justice rules prohibiting the disclosure of records while an investigation is ongoing.

Matibag also disclosed that investigators have identified four lawyers from a “well-known law office” allegedly linked to the supposed scheme. He said subpoenas for the lawyers were being prepared.

The NBI summoned Leviste and Paras after witnesses in a human trafficking case following a raid at a hotel in Malate, Manila last July 28 claimed they were linked to an alleged plan to recruit women who would falsely accuse Recto of sexual misconduct in exchange for P5 million.

Matibag said Leviste and Paras would be given another opportunity to appear before the bureau on Aug. 11 following the request of the former lawmaker.

The NBI chief added the talent manager arrested during the anti-human trafficking operation remains detained without bail on qualified human trafficking charges despite cooperating with investigators.

Matibag said the talent manager executed another sworn statement on Thursday and provided additional information, including details about the alleged involvement of lawyers in the supposed operation.

Medical leave

Senate officials said that Legarda had filed a medical leave of absence for the first half of the week, explaining her absence from the Senate’s regular sessions and the impeachment court proceedings from Aug. 3 to 5.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda’s chief of staff sent a letter to his office officially notifying them that the senator “will be on medical leave from Aug. 3-5, 2026.”

In a statement, Legarda confirmed that she filed for a formal medical leave.

“I confirm that I filed a formal medical leave with the Senate covering Aug. 3 to 5, 2026, in accordance with Senate rules,” Legarda said.

“I ask the public not to draw unwarranted conclusions from my travel or link it to the recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service,” she added.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that he had not spoken directly to Legarda regarding any overseas travel, noting that senators are not required to secure a travel authority for unofficial trips.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo reported that Legarda and Leviste had already left the country but defended his colleague’s absence.

Asked if he expects the senator to return next week, Tulfo replied: “Hopefully, she will return. Nothing was said about the purpose, just medical need.”

Legarda’s medical leave followed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement last week that he had signed the charge sheet initiating a preliminary investigation against Legarda, Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Malversation, plunder cases 

The three face complaints for non-bailable plunder and multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly securing exclusive solar energy franchises but failing to deliver the promised power supply, costing the government more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations and hundreds of billions in stunted economic investments.

Instead of building the necessary infrastructure to generate electricity, the ombudsman claimed Leviste merely sold the company assets and rights for massive profit.

Remulla also accused Legarda of using her position as then-chairperson of the Senate finance committee to secure the lucrative solar energy franchise for her son, who was only 21 years old at the time. – With additional reports from Bella Cariaso and Neil Jayson Servallos