Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. — File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — The government has recovered only P80 million so far from the P24-billion penalty imposed on the solar energy company of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, according to the head of the Department of Energy (DOE).
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin gave the update after Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno brought the matter up during the House appropriations committee hearing on the proposed 2027 DOE budget on Wednesday.
The DOE in January this year imposed a P24-billion penalty on Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPHI) for failing to produce the power capacity that the company committed under the more than 30 service contracts awarded by the government during the Duterte administration.
“P80 million, Mr. Chair,” Garin said when asked by Diokno on the amount recovered so far.
Asked how the DOE plans to compel SPPHI to pay the balance, Garin said a criminal complaint had already been filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the company and while a civil case has been filed with the Office of the Solicitor General.
“The purpose of these cases is also to recover the P14 billion in expired bonds, is that correct? Diokno asked, to which Garin said yes.
Also according to the secretary, SPPHI has not yet been “blacklisted” based on the terms set by a recent DOE circular on holding power generation firms accountable.
“I think a month or two months ago, we issued a new circular on GenCos’ (generation companies) accountability, which gives them [up to] ‘three strikes’ and [then] we can blacklist them,” Garin said, again in reply to a question from Diokno regarding SPPHI’s status.
“We’re working on it, she added.
In July, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, as well as former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, are under preliminary investigation for possible plunder and graft over the uncompleted solar power projects.
The Office of the Ombudsman ordered them last week to formally reply to the complaints.