Leviste admits ownership of power firm
Controversial Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste admitted that he remained the owner of a Batangas solar power firm, but insisted that such ownership did not violate the constitutional prohibition on public officials having direct or indirect interest in contracts, franchises or special privileges.
On the day he filed a civil libel suit against Palace press officer Claire Castro about his solar energy empire, Leviste confirmed that he is still the owner of Solar Philippines Power Holdings Inc. (SPPHI), which has shares in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC).
But he said he was legally advised that such ownership did not violate Article 6, Section 14 of the Constitution, which partly states: “… Neither shall he, directly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office.”
He argued that his shareholdings were all declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and that he does not take part in discussions or legislation involving the energy sector, and that he has taken “great care” not to be involved in the affairs of the House committee on energy.
“I am very obviously well-advised and well-informed by my lawyers…The scope is very broad if your interpretation is that ownership of shares in companies that have dealings with the government is prohibited,” he said.
“If that’s the case, I call for a broad discussion on Jan. 26 on all potential conflicts of interest. Let’s look at the disclosures of the 318 members of Congress and what the relationships of the companies they own are with government contracts,” he said.
SPPHI made headlines recently after the Department of Energy slapped it with a P24-billion fine supposedly for failing to produce power it committed to deliver under more than 30 service contracts with the government.
Leviste denied that his company failed to deliver their targets, arguing the projects were not actually given permits to proceed.
At the same time, he said, the P24-billion fine appeared to apply only to SPNEC.
“However, I do not have management, involvement, in SPNEC … I’ve always been transparent about my ownership interests in these companies and I have been very careful to avoid discussions about companies I have interest in,” Leviste said.
