REP. Leandro Leviste has yet to be considered a fugitive from justice despite an arrest warrant issued against him, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Thursday.
The DOJ said the criminal case against Leviste was filed before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 235 on Sept. 29, with the court subsequently issuing a warrant of arrest. Two of his co-accused have posted bail.
DOJ OIC Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan said that for Leviste to be declared a fugitive from justice, the court must first give him an opportunity to appear at the scheduled proceedings.
“There’s a process that needs to be followed before we can declare him a fugitive from justice. The court will give him an opportunity to appear before it at the scheduled hearing,” Abugan said.
Leviste’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Justice officials said the prosecution may consider other legal measures, including the cancellation of travel documents, to secure Leviste’s court appearance.
The DOJ has urged Levite to submit himself to the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice officials stressed that the case should not be dismissed as insignificant simply because of the amount involved.
What is at issue, they said, is respect for the law and the judicial process.
“Not following or violating the law is a big matter,” the DOJ said.
The Makati court issued the arrest warrant after the DOJ filed charges on Sept. 29 against Leviste and two Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. officials for alleged violations of the Public Service Act.
The case traces back to a May complaint by the Department of Energy accusing Leviste and other officials of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. of failing to fulfill the obligations of the company’s 25-year congressional franchise, including providing electricity to remote, unserved and underserved areas. Prosecutors later found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction, prompting the DOJ to file the case in court.
