Loren Legarda, Leandro Leviste file counter-affidavit on plunder complaint

Senator Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas Representative Lendro Leviste, have already filed their counter-affidavit, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Friday.

Legarda and Leviste are both under investigation in relation to the allegedly incomplete solar energy projects amounting to P10.44 billion. The Ombudsman has ordered both of them to answer the plunder complaint filed against them.

“Nag-file na sila ng counter-affidavit. Late finile 'yung counter-affidavit, if I am right, but we’re not going to get them on any technicality; we will still consider the counter-affidavit,” Remulla said.

“Para due process, walang masasabi. We’re considering it. Pag-aaralan namin ang kanilang counter-affidavit, pero ang problema, paano ‘yan kung may questions kami? Nasaan sila?” he added.

(So that it is due process, they cannot say anything about it. We will study their counter-affidavit, but the problem is, what if we have questions? Where are they?)

Remulla said that from what they know, the mother and son are still in Paris, but they have also gone to Switzerland.

Asked if they have a timeline to process the case, the Ombudsman said that they have 60 days for preliminary investigation.

“Pagkatapos ng 60 days, then for resolution na ‘yan (After 60 days, then it is for resolution),” Remulla said.

The plunder charges against the mother-son lawmakers were announced in late July.

Both Legarda and Leviste have previously denied any wrongdoing. Legarda is on extended medical leave from the Senate due to a lung-related disease. —AOL, GMA News