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Makati court orders Leviste’s arrest over alleged solar franchise violations

A MAKATI court has ordered the arrest of Batangas Rep. Leandro Antonio L. Leviste over alleged violations of the Public Service Act tied to Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPSBC), exposing the lawmaker to criminal proceedings over the company’s alleged failure to meet its franchise obligations.

BusinessWorld Online @bworldph

October 7, 2026 | 9:45 pm PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter A MAKATI court has ordered the arrest of Batangas Rep. Leandro Antonio L.

Leviste over alleged violations of the Public Service Act tied to Solar Para Sa Bayan Corp. (SPSBC), exposing the lawmaker to criminal proceedings over the company’s alleged failure to meet its franchise obligations. Justice spokesman Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said prosecutors filed charges on Sept.

29 before a Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) against Mr. Leviste and two other Solar Para Sa Bayan incorporators and corporate officers for violating Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Act.

“The filing of the informations stemmed from a finding of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction that SPSBC willfully neglected and intentionally failed to comply with its obligations under its legislative franchise,” he told reporters via Viber on Wednesday.

The presiding judge of Makati RTC Branch 235 signed the arrest warrant on Oct. 5 and set bail at P72,000. The court said bail could be paid in cash or secured through property or a private company.

It also allowed release without payment under certain conditions. “The issuance and terms of the warrant are matters within the jurisdiction of the court,” Mr. Martinez said.

Mr. Leviste’s spokesman, lawyer Antonio Gabriel “Tony” M. La Viña, said the lawmaker’s camp had expected the case and was prepared to challenge it in court.

“This is a complaint looking for a crime,” he said in a Facebook post. “There is no crime committed here by Leandro Leviste or his company Solar ng Bayan which was granted a franchise by Congress in 2019.” He argued that the franchise “is not a public utility covered by the Public Service Act,” and that Mr.

Leviste and his companies therefore could not be prosecuted under the law. Mr. La Viña also said implementation of the franchise had been prevented by the Department of Energy’s failure to issue the necessary rules and identify areas where the company could operate.

He said the franchise had effectively been revoked because it was not implemented and argued that prosecutors could not invoke the law’s general penal provision without identifying a specific provision that was violated. Congress granted Solar Para Sa Bayan a franchise under Republic Act No.

11357 in 2019. Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin filed a complaint with the Justice department in May over alleged failures to comply with franchise conditions.

Mr. Leviste left the Philippines in early August. Mr.

La Viña earlier said the lawmaker was caring for his mother, Senator Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda, while she was on medical leave in France. Mr.

Martinez said an accused must first submit to the court’s jurisdiction through arrest or voluntary surrender before bail may be granted. He said a valid outstanding warrant could be served on any day and at any time, although its enforcement rests with the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

Mr. Martinez said it was too early to determine whether the Justice department would seek the cancellation of Mr. Leviste’s passport.

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