Legarda extends leave anew

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Loren Legarda has asked for another extension of her medical leave abroad, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed yesterday.

This marks Legarda’s second month of absence in the Senate as the ombudsman probes her and her son’s allegedly anomalous solar projects.

Legarda has been on leave since Aug. 3, missing out on her duties in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has accused Legarda of using her post to secure exclusive solar power franchises for her son Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, resulting in multibillion-peso “ghost electricity” losses.

Authorities are probing Legarda, Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi for plunder and graft.

Legarda’s spokesman Tony La Viña has denied the senator was running away from the charges, saying Legarda will go home soon and is willing to rejoin the Senate majority and abandon Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Legarda is welcome to join them, harboring no hard feelings for her for siding with Cayetano.