29/08/2026
๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐จ๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ค๐จ๐ร๐ข ๐ข๐ก ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง, ๐ฃ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ, ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐
We, the University of the Philippines Antiqueรฑoโan organization of student-scholars born, raised, and deeply rooted in the Province of Antiqueโstand resolute in our commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and good governance. As young citizens of Antique studying in the premier state university, we refuse to remain silent while the democratic trust of our people is compromised by political convenience, institutional influence, and unresolved allegations of graft and plunder.
The Office of the Ombudsmanโs order for a preliminary investigation into Senator Loren Legarda and her son Congressman Leandro Leviste (Batangas 1st District) exposes a deeply concerning pattern: the dangerous blurring of public office and private family enterprise. The criminal complaints cover violations of the Anti-Plunder Law (RA 7080), the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials (RA 6713) over the alleged "Legarda-Leviste Solar Energy Network". Investigators charge that Senator Legarda used her political cloutโspecifically as former Chair of the Senate Committee on Financeโto clear the path for her sonโs company, Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation (SPBC), to secure a 25-year legislative franchise and exclusive renewable energy contracts. These deals allegedly generated over โฑ10.44 billion in unpaid obligations and "ghost electricity"โpromised solar grids that were never delivered, leaving unserved communities in the dark while driving electricity prices upward.
Instead of staying in the country to face the Filipino people and submit to accountability, Senator Legarda and Congressman Leviste left the country for Europe. Following this departure, Senator Legarda extended her medical leave four consecutive times through her Senate colleagues. While we recognize the reality of health issues, we echo the serious concerns raised regarding the timing of these extended leaves, occurring precisely as the Ombudsman issued an order for a counter-affidavit. Public office requires public accountability, not flight, procedural delays, or medical convenience.
This controversy is not an isolated incident; it reflects a long career defined by opportunism. Senator Legarda has earned a reputation as a classic "political butterfly" (balimbing). In 2001, she positioned herself as a champion of morality when she wept on national television during the impeachment trial of President Joseph "Erap" Estrada; yet by 2004, she ran as the vice-presidential candidate under Erapโs political coalition. In the late 2000s, she heavily criticized Senator Manny Villar over real estate controversies, only to run as his vice-presidential running mate in 2010. Over her 20+ years in power, she has seamlessly shifted alliances across administrationsโfrom Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to Benigno Aquino III, to Rodrigo Duterte, and eventually to the Marcos-Duterte coalition. While her camp frames these shifts as "strategic partnerships," history shows a clear pattern of changing colors whenever it guarantees proximity to power.
While Senator Legarda used her stint as Antiqueโs Lone District Representative (2019โ2022) to brand herself as a local benefactor, our province continues to suffer from basic systemic crises. Antiqueรฑos face rotational power outages, unreliable utility grids, and persistent economic inequality. We reject the notion that our home province should serve as a political sanctuary or an electoral stepping stone for national dynasties. Token cultural patronage, photo opportunities, and seasonal infrastructure handouts cannot replace structural justice and honest governance.
As scholars of and for the nation (Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Bayan), UP Antiqueรฑo asserts the following demands:
1. We demand that Senator Loren Legarda and Congressman Leandro Leviste return to the Philippines, exhaust no further medical leave extensions, and directly answer the plunder and graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman.
2. We call for a comprehensive, independent public audit of all infrastructure, energy, and development funds allocated to the Province of Antique during Senator Legardaโs tenure to guarantee that no public funds were funneled into private enterprises or family interests.
3. We call on the people of Antique, especially the youth, to dismantle practices of political dependency. Genuine development in Antique must be institutional, transparent, and sustainableโindependent of the political fortunes of any elite family.
To our fellow Antiqueรฑos, mga kasimanwa, our love for Antique must compel us to critical vigilance. We must never allow our provincial pride to be weaponized to shield politicians from scrutiny. We must demand nothing less from those who claim to represent us.
Accountability for the People!
Integrity in Governance!
Kruhay, Antique!
