Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste has filed a civil libel complaint against Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, accusing the Palace official of spreading “libelous statements” about his solar energy business in a series of vlogs.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, Leviste lodged the complaint Friday before the Balayan Regional Trial Court in Batangas.

The lawmaker is seeking ₱110 million in damages, accusing Castro — a Palace spokesperson — of falsely claiming that he sold the congressional franchise of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. (SPBC).

Leviste flatly denied the allegation, calling it malicious and misleading. “Ako po ay on the way sa Batangas ngayon dahil magsasampa po ako ng kasong libel kay PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro for libelous statements dahil hindi ko po binenta ang kumpanya na may prangkisa na sinabi niya multiple times na binenta ko ang prangkisa,” he told reporters.

“Hindi ko po alam bakit sobrang interested si PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro sa akin pagkatapos kong inilabas ang Cabral files. Pero ang sinasabi ko lang po, gabi-gabi, minsan, dalawang episode sa isang gabi, gumagawa ng vlog si PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro tungkol sa akin,” Leviste added.

“Hindi ko naman po nais na masaktan si Usec. Claire Castro ngunit kailangan ko lang pong depensahan ang aking pangalan, dahil naka ilang vlog na po siya tungkol sa akin,” Leviste stressed.

Leviste Stresses “SP New Energy” Different from “Solar Para sa Bayan”

Leviste clarified that the firm he sold was SP New Energy Corp., now a subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp., which held only a renewable energy service contract for a 280-megawatt solar project in Nueva Ecija.

He stressed that it was SPBC, not the sold company, that was granted a congressional franchise under Republic Act No. 11357 to construct, install, and operate solar-powered microgrids in remote areas.

The lawsuit comes amid mounting scrutiny of Leviste’s solar empire after the Department of Energy slapped a ₱24-billion penalty on Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. — the parent company — for failing to deliver power promised under more than 30 government service contracts.

‘Targeted Attack,’ Lawyer Says

Leviste’s counsel Ferdinand Topacio said the vlogs were not harmless commentary but a deliberate political hit job against a lawmaker critical of the administration. “Ito ay hindi lamang exercise ng freedom of expression. This is a targeted attack against Cong. Leviste for being a critic of the government,” Topacio said.

“Ito po ay under the civil code, na ang principle po nito ay kung ikaw ay may ginawang isang bagay na naka-injure ng isang tao, ng kapwa tao mo, you are liable to pay for damages. Hindi po nais ipakulong si Usec. Claire Castro, ngunit gusto namin siyang panagutin. Unang-una, sapagkat may ginawa siyang mali, sa aming opinyon, at pangalawa to vindicate ‘yung good name and reputation of my client na sinira po niya with malice,” he added.

Palace Exec Fires Back

Castro hit back, saying she has yet to receive a copy of the complaint but accused Leviste of unfairly singling her out.

“Inamin ni Cong. Leviste sa isang interview na ang source ng diumano’y pagbebenta ng company na may franchise ay galing kay Ombudsman Remulla. Pero hindi niya sasampahan ng kaso ang Ombudsman dahil sa ginagalang niya ito at kaibigan ng nanay niya,” Castro said.

“Kakasuhan ba niya ako dahil sa hindi ako kaibigan ng nanay niya at hindi niya ako ginagalang? Can we say that the statements of the Ombudsman are with basis and not maligning while my statements sourced from the Ombudsman are nothing but libelous?” she added.

The Palace press officer said the lawsuit was meant to silence her. “Ang pagsasampa ng kasong ito ang tunay na paraan para ako ay matigil sa aking pagsasalita at pagtalakay sa mga issue.,” she said.

📷 Screenshot from the video of Leandro Leviste