Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday expressed doubts over the solar power company of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, raising concerns about possible political interests behind its operations.
In a program in DZRH's Executive Session, Remulla emphasized that the company’s rise may have been aided by political connections, including alleged links to the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“May koneksyon 'yan sa taas, may koneksyon sa Duterte government. 2019 ang franchise…Kasama nanay niya. Kasama sa naglakad ng franchise. Kunwari arm's length siya pero Chairman ka ng budget, ng finance committee pwede bang wala. Binigyan ka ng franchise, exclusive franchise pa,” Remulla said.
He also pointed to the possible involvement of Leviste’s mother, Senator Loren Legarda, questioning her role in committees overseeing budget and finance at the time due to a potential conflict of interest.
“Kuryente ang problema natin, tapos maglalagay ka pa ng sinasabi nilang “genius” na batang ‘yun na gumawa ng solar. Kalokohan. Niloko lang tayong lahat, kasi may kakunstaba ‘yan sa taas,” Remulla said.
He further alleged that Leviste may not have fully understood the corporate structure of his companies and hinted at the involvement of lawyers and political allies.
Remulla claimed the solar firm had “connections at the top” and ties to the Duterte government, noting that its franchise was granted in 2019.
In 2019, Congress granted a 25-year renewable energy distribution franchise to Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC), a company owned by Leviste, when he was 26 years old.
The measure passed despite opposition from several energy sector stakeholders who argued that the franchise was overly favorable. At the time, Senator Legarda was serving in the Senate.
Duterte later signed the measure into law, authorizing SPBC to build, operate, and maintain solar-powered facilities in off-grid and underserved areas.
Leviste was elected in 2025 as congressman of Batangas’ 1st District. His name gained prominence during the flood control controversy after he revealed an alleged bribery attempt by a district engineer in Batangas, who supposedly sought to halt an investigation into anomalies and irregularities in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) infrastructure projects in the district.
Leviste also disclosed what he called the “Cabral Files,” which he said contained alleged budget insertions by certain lawmakers and Cabinet members.
In January 10, Remulla said that the Office of the Ombudsman was investigating Leviste over the alleged sale of SPBC’s franchise to Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGen). MGen, however, clarified that it acquired shares of SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), another Leviste-owned firm, between 2023 and 2025, with transactions amounting to more than ₱22 billion.
Moreover, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin announced that nearly 12,000 megawatts worth of contracts awarded to Solar Philippines were canceled in 2024 and 2025 due to the company’s alleged failure to comply with contract terms.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is now seeking ₱24 billion in penalties from Solar Philippines. Garin said the DOE has no record showing that Leviste had transferred ownership of Solar Philippines before assuming public office. Leviste has maintained that he divested from SP New Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of Solar Philippines.
However, a public ownership report uploaded to the Philippine Stock Exchange on the same day disclosed that Leviste owns more than 9.35 billion shares, or 18.66 percent of SPNEC’s outstanding common stock.
On January 16, Leviste filed a civil libel complaint against Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro before the Balayan Regional Trial Court in Batangas, seeking ₱110 million in damages over what he described as Castro’s “libelous statements” regarding his solar energy firms.
Castro, however, questioned why Leviste did not file a similar case against Remulla, whom she identified as the original source of the information. She noted that Leviste himself had admitted in a media interview that the claim about the sale of a company holding a franchise originated from Remulla.
