Legarda on fourth medical leave
Sen. Loren Legarda has again extended her medical leave to Sept. 2, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug confirmed on Monday.
“Office of Sen. Legarda sent notice today that the Senator shall be on medical leave from August 24 to 26 and September 1 to 2,” Bantug told the Inquirer in a text message.
This is the senator’s fourth medical leave, covering both the Senate plenary sessions and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Her earlier leaves were for Aug. 3 to 5, Aug. 11 to 12, and Aug. 17 to 19.
‘Unfounded accusations’
According to the National Bureau of Investigation, Legarda left the country together with her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, on Aug. 2 via Hong Kong, with France as the final destination.
Her departure came after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that she and Leviste, along with former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, were subject to a preliminary investigation for graft and plunder in connection with alleged “ghost” solar projects worth over P10 billion.
Legarda has denied the allegations, calling them “utterly false and baseless.”
‘We need to flag it’
She also said in a statement that her medical leaves were filed “in accordance with Senate rules.”
“Neither I nor anyone else deserves to be subjected to unfounded accusations over the exercise of one’s legal rights. I have committed absolutely no wrongdoing,” she added.
Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman said Legarda’s extended leave of absence for medical reasons now seemed “suspicious” in view of the ongoing investigation against her and her son.
“Sen. Loren Legarda is on her third or fourth extension for travel authority for medical reasons, which we have begun to find quite suspicious already,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a press briefing.
“We need to flag it because she has an ongoing case with the Ombudsman,” he added.
Over the weekend, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said that reports of Legarda seeking asylum abroad are “fake news.”
Lacson shared that Legarda had previously complained of lung problems that supposedly required medical attention.
