Legarda, Leviste Fly to France Ahead of NBI Subpoena in Honey Trap Probe

The sudden departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, for France — just one day before the National Bureau of Investigation served the younger lawmaker a subpoena — has reignited questions among Filipinos about how public officials answer serious allegations. The NBI calls its evidence strong but stresses the probe remains a fact-finding effort with no charges filed, while a separate Ombudsman investigation into solar energy franchises runs in parallel.

Senator and Son Leave for France as NBI Serves Subpoena in Honey Trap Probe

Manila, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the Philippines on separate flights through Hong Kong on Aug. 2, 2026, with France as their final destination, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag. The bureau served Leviste a subpoena the next day over an alleged honey trap plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Bureau of Immigration records confirm both had no derogatory marks at departure, yet the timing has drawn attention from communities watching how institutions respond to claims involving high-ranking figures.

The Timeline of Departure and Subpoena Service

The NBI publicly announced on Aug. 1 that subpoenas would be sent to Leviste and former lawmaker Jacinto "Jing" Paras. The subpoena for Leviste was issued on Aug. 3, a day after his departure, and the congressman did not appear before investigators on Aug. 6. Matibag told True FM that Leviste and Paras will receive another opportunity to appear on Aug. 11, following a request relayed through counsel.

Matibag confirmed Leviste engaged legal counsel while abroad, and that the lawyer wrote the NBI requesting copies of the evidence. "Their lawyer essentially asked to see all the evidence so they could prepare their response. But this is still a fact-finding investigation. We are not yet at the stage of filing charges," the director said. The bureau has refused to release its materials, citing Department of Justice rules prohibiting disclosure of records while an investigation is ongoing.

The Alleged Honey Trap Plot

The NBI summoned Leviste and Paras after witnesses in a human trafficking case — following a raid at a hotel in Malate, Manila on July 28 — claimed the two were linked to an alleged plan to recruit women who would falsely accuse Recto of sexual misconduct in exchange for P5 million. A 58-year-old talent manager arrested in the anti-trafficking operation remains detained without bail on qualified human trafficking charges. She told investigators Leviste is allegedly the "VIP" in the plan, saying the lawmaker supposedly sent lawyers to create a "script," or fabricated statement, against the executive secretary.

Some alleged victims later said Paras told them they would be paid to create a story and sign an affidavit, with payment delivered in tranches as the case went on. Paras reportedly arranged to have four women claim Recto forced them to use illegal drugs and have sex with him. Matibag has also disclosed that investigators identified four lawyers from a "well-known law office" allegedly linked to the scheme, with subpoenas for them now being prepared. Of the evidence against Leviste as the alleged "brains" behind the plot, the NBI chief said it is "as strong as Superman."

Medical Leave and a 12-Country Itinerary

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda's chief of staff sent a letter officially notifying the Senate that the senator "will be on medical leave from Aug. 3-5, 2026." In a statement, Legarda said: "I confirm that I filed a formal medical leave with the Senate covering Aug. 3 to 5, 2026, in accordance with Senate rules. I ask the public not to draw unwarranted conclusions from my travel or link it to the recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service."

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that he had not spoken directly to Legarda regarding overseas travel, noting that senators are not required to secure a travel authority for unofficial trips. Sen. Erwin Tulfo defended his colleague: "Hopefully, she will return. Nothing was said about the purpose, just medical need." Politiko reported that Leviste sought a travel authority covering 12 countries — the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Switzerland and Germany — from July 26 to September 24.

The Ombudsman's Parallel Plunder Probe

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla last week signed the charge sheet initiating a preliminary investigation against Legarda, Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi. The three face complaints for non-bailable plunder and multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly securing exclusive solar energy franchises but failing to deliver the promised power supply — costing the government more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations and hundreds of billions in stunted economic investments, according to PhilStar reporting.

Instead of building the infrastructure needed to generate electricity, the ombudsman claimed Leviste merely sold the company's assets and rights for massive profit. Remulla also accused Legarda of using her position as then-chairperson of the Senate finance committee to secure the solar franchise for her son, who was only 21 years old at the time. Asked whether the mother and son will return, Remulla said: "Babalik 'yan. Babalik 'yan. Naniniwala kami na babalik" — they will come back, the office believes. "Baka gusto nilang umuwi na nakaposas 'pag hindi sila bumalik, hindi ba?" he added — maybe they want to come home in handcuffs if they refuse to return.

Energy Justice: Communities Left Waiting

Beyond the politics, the solar franchise story carries a human cost that reaches far from Manila. The 2019 congressional franchise under Republic Act No. 11357 was designed to bring electricity to island and mountain barangays where grid lines have never arrived. For households still dependent on kerosene lamps and expensive generator sets, the promise of reliable power meant more than infrastructure — it meant safer evenings for children studying by lamplight and smaller household budgets for fuel.

The Department of Energy has separately filed a complaint with the Department of Justice against Leviste and five officials of Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation for alleged violations of the Public Service Act, saying the firm failed to construct and provide electric power in remote, unviable, unserved and underserved areas. When delivery falters, the shortfall is measured not only in unpaid obligations exceeding P10.44 billion but also in the local enterprises that could have taken root once electricity arrived. For families who kept waiting, an alleged breach of a franchise meant to light up their communities becomes a lived setback, not an abstract regulatory matter.

What This Means for Public Trust

Public conversation across sari-sari stores and barangay halls frequently returns to whether prominent figures face the same scrutiny applied to ordinary citizens. The Palace has called the alleged framing of Recto "unacceptable," signaling that any perceived attack on a senior official will draw a swift institutional response. In this environment, the parallel NBI and Ombudsman proceedings become a practical test of whether accountability mechanisms can operate evenly across family and political networks.

At the same time, the NBI's careful handling reflects the tension between the public's demand for transparency and the constitutional right to due process. Respondents are entitled to examine the record and be heard — Leviste's counsel abroad has already sought copies of the evidence. Bayanihan values emphasize collective responsibility rather than selective protection for the well-connected, and ordinary Filipinos are watching closely to see whether the institutions investigating a powerful family can sustain their independence while delivering the transparency the public expects.

What Happens Next

On Aug. 11, Leviste and Paras will have another opportunity to appear before the NBI, a step that could clarify the direction of the fact-finding effort. The Ombudsman's preliminary investigation into the plunder and graft complaints is still at an early stage, focused on determining whether probable cause exists rather than establishing guilt. Voluntary return would keep the process within domestic jurisdiction, while any decision to remain abroad would raise separate questions — including extradition — only after formal charges are filed.

The coming weeks will show whether the probes advance from fact-finding to formal charges, and whether the institutions involved can deliver the fair, transparent process that Filipino families expect. For communities that have waited years for both electricity and accountability, the outcome will say much about whether justice in the Philippines moves evenly for everyone.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.