SENATOR Loren Legarda has secured her fifth extension of medical leave, keeping her away from Senate duties until September 16. Her initial leave covered August 3–5 and has since been repeatedly extended, primarily covering the days when the Senate impeachment court — Monday through Wednesday — convenes for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Senate leaders including President Sherwin Gatchalian, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson have confirmed she is undergoing treatment for a serious lung‑related illness, though Legarda herself has not publicly disclosed specific details of her condition.
The prolonged absence has drawn scrutiny amid a preliminary investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman into alleged irregularities totaling ₱10.44 billion linked to solar power projects. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has stepped up criticism of Legarda’s extended stay abroad, suggesting on Monday that the senator and her son, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, may have no intention of returning to face accountability. “They probably won’t come back because it seems like they’re avoiding paying for what they did,” Remulla stated, framing the repeated leave extensions as a tactic to evade the ongoing investigation.
The coincidence between Legarda’s extended travel and the schedule of both the impeachment trial and the Ombudsman’s probe has raised questions about the timing and purpose of her absence. While her medical condition has been cited as the official reason, the Ombudsman’s public remarks reflect growing concern that the senator may be deliberately prolonging her stay outside the country. As matters stand, Legarda is scheduled to be away until September 16, leaving her seat vacant and her attendance in both the Senate and the impeachment trial uncertain until at least that date.
metrosundaily
