No basis for plunder charges against Rep. Leandro Leviste, says legal counsel Tony La Viña

There is no basis for plunder charges against Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste because no government funds were ever released under his companies' renewable energy service contracts, legal counsel and spokesperson Atty. Tony La Viña said Monday.

“Sa lahat ng kontrata ni Leandro, walang perang nilabas ang gobyerno. No way is it a monopoly. Pangalawa, cannot be plunder, no money was given to him by the government. Zero,” La Viña said in an interview, speaking on behalf of both Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda.

La Viña explained that renewable energy service contracts require private investors—not the government—to shoulder all exploration and development risks.

“No money. Investor ito ang magbigay ng pera,” he said, noting that around 90 percent of service contracts nationwide fail to reach commercial operation due to grid-connection issues and technical feasibility. “Will you make money? Will you be able to connect to the grid? So very clear ’yan kay Leandro at sa lahat ng investors na this is a risk. And they are the ones that bear the risk.”

While acknowledging that some of Leviste’s contracts did not materialize, La Viña stressed that failing to complete exploratory projects does not constitute a criminal offense. He confirmed that Leviste's companies were assessed over ₱90 million in non-fulfillment fees, all of which have been settled.

“Si Leandro may fees talagang na-charge sa kanyang mga companies... P90-plus million, bayad na po ’yun immediately,” La Viña said.

He dismissed allegations that Leviste owes the government ₱10 billion to ₱24 billion, asserting that neither Leviste nor any entity he majority-owns has received a demand letter or billing statement for such amounts.

La Viña defended the lawmaker's industry track record, pointing to successful developments that include what he described as the largest renewable energy project under the Marcos administration.

Questioning the grounds for an Ombudsman investigation, La Viña described the complaints as politically motivated retaliations triggered by Leviste’s outspoken criticisms of government corruption, fellow lawmakers, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Leandro talaga ang target nito... This all started when he started attacking fellow congressmen, the administration, DPWH,” he said, framing the case as another instance of the “weaponization of the law” across successive political administrations.

Following a month-long review of project documents and consultations with energy sector experts, La Viña said he found no criminal liability on the part of Leviste or Sen. Legarda, whose inclusion in the issue he attributed solely to her relationship with her son.

“I-review ko lahat. Dinaanan ko lahat ng resibo. Madami akong kinausap na experts sa local energy. And I've come to the conclusion... zero ang crime dito. Walang krimen na na-commit,” La Viña said. “Kay Senator Loren, walang kaso. Kasi nanay siya.”

-Paraluman News