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A Makati Regional Trial Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, as authorities move to determine his whereabouts and possible steps following his departure from the Philippines.
Makati RTC Branch 235 Presiding Judge Ricardo A. Moldez II issued the warrant on Oct. 5, according to a copy furnished to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and obtained by law enforcement authorities.
The warrant accuses Leviste of violating Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659, or the Public Service Act. The court set bail at ₱72,000.
The order directed law enforcement officers to arrest Leviste, who was listed as possibly being in Calatagan, Batangas, or elsewhere, and bring him before the court.
The NBI confirmed receiving a copy of the warrant and said it would coordinate with other government agencies on possible measures against the lawmaker.
NBI chief Melvin Matibag said authorities’ information indicated that Leviste was abroad. The bureau plans to coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to verify his immigration status and whereabouts, while it may also consult the Department of Foreign Affairs on possible measures involving his passport.
Authorities could also ask the House of Representatives to cancel Leviste’s travel authority, Matibag said. The NBI said it had no information on when he would return to the Philippines.
Legally Fraught Solar Franchise
The arrest warrant stems from a complaint filed by the Department of Energy with the Department of Justice in May against Leviste and five officials of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC).
The DOE alleged that SPBC failed to construct and provide electric power to customers and end users in remote, unviable, unserved or underserved areas covered by its 2019 congressional franchise under Republic Act No. 11357.
Leviste was identified in the complaint as SPBC’s chairman, president, chief executive officer, and director.
The other respondents named were directors Antonio C. Legarda Sr., Benjamin C. Legarda, Antonio B. Legarda Jr. and Irma C. Flaminiano, as well as Hazel Iris P. Lafuente, who served as corporate secretary and treasurer.
The Public Service Act sets rules governing public services, including electricity. Section 25 provides penalties for violations, including a fine of up to ₱2 million and/or imprisonment ranging from six years and one day to 12 years upon conviction.
Leviste has rejected the DOE allegations, calling them baseless. He previously criticized the complaint as a potential precedent for future administrations to pursue what he described as nuisance cases against officers and directors of public utilities.
“The only complaint I’ve seen is from the media, and based on that, I can say: super duper hina (super duper weak),” Leviste said at the time.
Ombudsman Cases Add Scrutiny
The arrest warrant comes as the Office of the Ombudsman investigates separate graft and plunder allegations involving Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, in connection with solar energy projects and service contracts linked to Leviste’s companies.
The developments have also drawn attention to the whereabouts of the two lawmakers. The Bureau of Immigration has said Legarda and Leviste have been overseas since August.
Legarda is on medical leave and has been receiving treatment in France, according to her spokesperson, lawyer Tony La Viña. La Viña said Leviste has been accompanying her and taking care of his mother.
Legarda’s medical leave was set to run until Oct. 9.
The latest case therefore places Leviste at the center of legal and regulatory scrutiny involving the operation of solar power projects and compliance with the conditions of a congressional franchise.
Authorities are currently focused on locating the lawmaker and determining the appropriate legal measures while the Public Service Act case proceeds before the Makati court.
Source:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/leandro-leviste-warrant-arrest-public-service-act-october-2026
