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Senator Loren Legarda on Friday urged the public not to draw “unwarranted conclusions” from her medical leave and her travel.
Legarda and her son Batangas lawmaker Leandro Leviste had left the country amid an investigation
“I confirm that I filed a formal medical leave with the Senate covering August 3 to 5, 2026, in accordance with Senate rules,” Legarda said in a Facebook post.
“I ask the public not to draw unwarranted conclusions from my travel or link it to the recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service,” she said.
In an earlier statement regarding the Ombudsman investigation, Legarda said, “All my public life since 1998, I have always upheld my integrity, which I value dearly. This baseless allegation is a smear on my person that is totally undeserved.”
“We have not received any communication from the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the reported preliminary investigation, but I can categorically state that the reported accusations are utterly false and baseless. No public funds were involved. We are prepared to bring out the truth,” she added.
Legarda then urged the public to be discerning, “especially in light of the timing and nature of these allegations.”
“We remain confident that once the facts are laid bare, we will be vindicated and our names cleared,” Legarda added.
The National Bureau of Investigation earlier announced that Legarda had flown to France while Leviste flew to Hong Kong.
In a separate interview, Senator Erwin Tulfo said that Legarda had asked for permission prior to leaving. He said that it was why she was not in the last impeachment hearing.
The mother-son lawmakers are facing complaints for plunder and graft in connection with the alleged failure by Leviste’s renewable energy firm to provide solar power, as mandated in its congressional franchise.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla explained that Legarda is included in the case because Leviste was able to secure the franchise while she was the Senate Finance chair in 2019.
Remulla on Friday expressed confidence that Legarda and Leviste will return to the Philippines.
“Babalik ‘yan. Babalik ‘yan. Naniniwala kami na babalik,” Remulla said.
(They will come back. They’ll be back. We believe that they will be back.)
Remulla said that there will be consequences in the event that the mother and son decide not to come back to the Philippines.
“Baka gusto nilang umuwi na nakaposas ‘pag hindi sila bumalik, hindi ba?” Remulla added.
(Maybe they want to come home in handcuffs if they refuse to return.) –NB/KG, GMA News
