THE Office of the Ombudsman raised concerns on Tuesday over the prolonged absences of Senator Loren Legarda and Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste amid ongoing plunder and graft complaints against both officials.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano disclosed that Leviste formally requested a two‑month travel authority from July 26 to September 24, listing several countries he intended to visit. The revelation comes as the anti‑graft body also expressed growing skepticism over Legarda’s repeated extensions of her travel and medical leave, which have kept her away from the Senate since early August.
Clavano noted that Legarda has filed what appears to be her third or fourth extension of leave, pushing her absence until August 19. She first filed medical leave effective August 3, and has since extended it multiple times — a pattern the Ombudsman now views with deep suspicion. “We have begun to find this quite suspicious already,” Clavano stated, emphasizing that such prolonged and repeated absences are particularly concerning when individuals are facing serious corruption charges before the anti‑graft body.
The Ombudsman explained that it is exercising caution and flagging the matter because both officials have active cases pending before the office. Legarda, her son Leviste, and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi are facing a preliminary investigation over alleged graft and plunder involving more than ₱10 billion in purported ghost solar projects. Legarda has previously denied the allegations as “utterly false and baseless” and urged the public not to link her travel to the cases, but the Ombudsman remains watchful over their availability and accountability as the probe moves forward.
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