DOE: Penalty vs. Leviste-founded Solar Philippines not linked to Cabral files

Nothing personal.

This was how Energy Secretary Sharon Garin described Wednesday the government's move to impose fines and terminate over 11,000 megawatts worth of contracts of Solar Philippines, the company founded by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Garin was asked if the sanctions meted against the company were because of the so-called Cabral files, alleged portions of which were posted online by Leviste amid the flood control corruption scandal.

"Hindi naman. Kahit hindi siya mag-ingay eh talagang canceled talaga 'yung projects niya. Hindi naman ito personalan pero... kahit man, kung 'di namin ite-terminate ito, mali ang gagawin namin," Garin said.

(Not really. Even if he doesn't speak about this, we will really cancel his projects. There is nothing personal here. If we do not terminate this, we will be doing the wrong thing.)

"Hindi yata tama na huwag na nating galawin dahil nag-iingay siya," she added.

(It's not right if we won't check his firm just because he's speaking out...)

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy disclosed some P24-billion in penalties to Solar Philippines after the termination of over 11,000 megawatts worth of contracts in the past two years for failure to deliver on its production commitments.

Garin had said the penalties include performance funds, along with contractual obligations or the supposed cost of the project, and the financial obligations or the training and development fund and other obligations in the contract.

She said the DOE has consistently sent notices and show cause orders, along with requests for Solar Philippines to renew its bonds, but to no avail.

Solar Philippines was found to have failed to deliver on its commitment to produce nearly 12 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.

The DOE has said more than 1,300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity currently assigned to Solar Philippines could become available to other energy companies if the former fails to meet its project deadlines.

GMA News Online has reached out to Leviste and Solar Philippines about the matter, but they have yet to respond as of posting time. 

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said an investigation is ongoing into the alleged transfer and sale of Leviste's solar energy franchise, which he claimed lacked congressional approval.

Leviste, meanwhile, has said in a social media post that he would address the allegations when Congress resumes session on January 26.

Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN) has said it invested in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), a company also founded by Leviste but separate from Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC).

MGEN, meanwhile, denied buying shares from SPBC, the company granted a 25-year congressional franchise.

It added that Leviste sold P22.259 billion worth of shares to MGEN Renewables, MGEN's renewable energy subsidiary. The transactions took place from late 2023 to early 2025, a report on 24 Oras said Sunday. — VDV, GMA Integrated News