ASSISTANT Ombudsman Mico Clavano stated that it would have been more appropriate if Senator Loren Legarda had filed a single, comprehensive medical leave request — especially if she is indeed suffering from a serious illness — rather than repeatedly extending her stay abroad.
The observation comes amid growing questions over the senator’s prolonged absence from the Senate and the successive extensions of her travel authority, which the anti-graft body has described as suspicious in light of pending plunder and graft complaints against her.
Clavano explained that filing one complete and clearly defined leave of absence would have been far more consistent with transparency and due process.
Instead, the pattern of short-term requests followed by extensions has raised concerns about the true purpose and duration of her time outside the country, particularly when the Ombudsman has ongoing cases involving Legarda and her travel companion, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste. The repeated extensions have created the impression that the timeline is being adjusted rather than established from the start.
The Ombudsman official’s remarks reinforce the view that while health concerns are valid and deserve respect, public officials are also accountable for their movements and must observe the highest standards of clarity.
A single, properly filed leave would have minimized speculation and aligned with the principle that public service is a public trust. As matters stand, however, the continued lack of a clear, unified explanation for Legarda’s extended absence continues to fuel questions that could have been easily avoided with a straightforward request.
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