MANILA, Philippines — Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro on Wednesday called for respect for the Ombudsman's investigation into her colleague, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him by a Makati court.
"I have no concrete understanding of the legal repercussions of the franchise that he applied for and was eventually granted to him. But the least I can say is we should respect the investigation that was conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman," Luistro said.
Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 issued the warrant on Oct. 5, 2026 over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act and set Leviste's bail at P72,000.
Luistro said she was surprised by the case involving Leviste's solar energy franchise, citing the Department of Energy's position that the franchise's obligations were not delivered for the government.
"I was also somewhat surprised to hear from the news about his involvement in the grant of a franchise for solar energy, which, according to the DOE, through Secretary Sharron Garin, was not delivered for the government," she said.
Luistro also said she had no information on Leviste's whereabouts amid reports that he had been accompanying his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, who is undergoing medical treatment.
Asked whether she would urge Leviste to return and face the case, Luistro said: "I have known him to be a very smart person. I think he is in the right position to decide for himself."
The Manila Times had sought comment from Leviste regarding the warrant but has yet to receive a response.
