DOE seeks P1.18B in second case vs Leviste

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has filed another case against young tycoon and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste to compel him to shell out P1.18 billion over his alleged failure to deliver a 120-megawatt (MW) solar project.

The agency filed a civil complaint against the lawmaker before the Regional Trial Court of Taguig City, as it seeks to collect the performance bond.

This was after his company, Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects Inc. (SPCRPI), along with related corporate entities, allegedly failed to develop the General Santos solar farm.

The planned solar project emerged as one of the winning bidders in the first round of the green energy auction program (GEAP) in 2022. It was supposed to boost the power supply of the Mindanao grid.

READ: Leviste’s Solar PH slapped with P24-B fine over idle projects

The committed commencement period was set between Dec. 26, 2022, and Dec. 25, 2025.

The GEAP is an initiative meant to scale up the renewables’ share in the power generation mix, currently dominated by coal.

Despite repeated notices from the government to renew its performance bond, which was meant to guarantee the completion of the project, the DOE received no response.

READ: EXPLAINER: Why Leandro Leviste’s energy firms are under fire

As the DOE saw no compliance from the group, it terminated the service contract in December 2025.

Undelivered commitments

It said that the Leviste companies failed “to undertake any serious effort to implement the project.”

This also resulted in “higher energy prices,” the DOE noted.

“Defendants honored none of these commitments—not a single watt was delivered,” it said in the 55-page document.

The agency claimed that Leviste was the person in control of SPCRPI and other corporate defendants, namely Solar Philippines Southern Mindanao Corp., and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPPHI).

“The plaintiff accordingly comes before this Honorable Court to demand full and complete accountability from defendants … for the damage their willful and unconscionable non-performance has inflicted upon the State’s constitutional energy mandate and the Filipino public,” the DOE said.

Leviste has yet to respond when sought for comments.

Earlier case

In May, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin also filed a complaint against Leviste and several directors of Solar Para Sa Bayan (SPSB) for failing to supply electricity to remote and underserved areas despite securing a legislative franchise.

Under the franchise, SPSB was expected to develop microgrids and tap renewable energy sources to supply electricity to remote, unviable, unserved, or underserved communities.

Earlier this year, the agency imposed a penalty of P24 billion on SPPPHI for failing to deliver more than 11,000 MW of renewable energy capacity. /cb