Balayan, Batangas, Philippines – Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste on Friday filed a civil libel complaint against Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, alleging that she made “libelous statements” against him in her vlogs regarding the true state of his solar energy firm.
Accompanied by his legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, the lawmaker filed the complaint at the Balayan Regional Trial Court, which falls under his jurisdiction as the first district congressman of Batangas.
Leviste stated in an interview that he is seeking P110 million in damages from the Palace spokesperson. He claims that Castro falsely stated that he had sold the franchise of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC). “I don’t wish to hurt Usec. Castro, but I just want to defend my name,” he said. “She has done multiple vlogs against me.”
Leviste clarified that the company he sold was SP New Energy Corp., now a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp., which held a renewable energy service contract for a 280-megawatt solar project in Nueva Ecija.
SPBC, in contrast, was awarded a congressional franchise through Republic Act No. 11357 to construct, install, and operate solar-powered microgrids in remote areas.
This legal action follows the Department of Energy’s imposition of a P24-billion fine against Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc., the parent company of Leviste’s solar energy ventures, for allegedly failing to meet power delivery commitments under more than 30 service contracts with the government.
