Ombudsman Remulla sees charges filed vs. Legarda, Leviste soon

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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the filing of criminal cases against Senator Loren Legarda and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste over an undelivered power supply by Leviste’s solar firm are forthcoming.

Remulla, however, won't commit to a timeline.

“Malapit-lapit na ‘yan. Mapit-lapit,” Remulla said in a press conference.

(It is coming quite soon. Quite soon.)

“I won’t give a timeframe. I'll go back down here when we have to file the case already,” he added.

Remulla stressed that the criminal cases against Legarda and son are merit-based when asked if this move is political persecution.

“Malayo yata ‘yun. You all saw the conflict of interest angle here. Hindi naman namin iniimbento ‘yun eh. Wala kaming iniimbento diyan,” Remulla said.

(This is far from political persecution. We are not inventing things here. We did not invent anything.)

“'Yung mga pagbebenta niyan, kumpanya, pag-flip ng franchise, pa-flip ng lahat. Hindi naman namin iniimbento ‘yun eh. We will present reports,” Remulla said.

(Leviste suddenly his company after getting the franchise...we did not invent those. We will present reports.)

Remulla said that Legarda and her son’s extended stay abroad is not helping their cause.

“Nung umpisa, we had an inkling na gusto niyo pa umuwi. But later on, from the accounts of a lot of people who we mutually know, parang ayaw niya na umuwi. So ang tingin ko, ayaw niya na umuwi. Tinatakasan nila,” Remulla said.

(Initially she has plans to go home but later on, I've learned from people who mutually know that she does not want to go home anymore. They are escaping accountability.)

“Ayaw nilang humarap sa charges. Kasi kung talagang wala kang kasalanan, humarap ka. Remember, in criminal law, flight is an indication of guilt. And if she wants a presumption to hold so be it. But it doesn't mean that they can hide forever,” Remulla said.

(They don't want to face the charges. If you are innocent, then face the charges.) —NB, GMA News