MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating whether two solar energy-related companies founded by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste may have allegedly skirted the law in their operations.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the inquiry covers Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiary, SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC).

“We are studying the case of Solar Philippines and the selling of its spin-off company, SPNEC, a subsidiary and intimately related to Solar Philippines. We have to look at it from that point of view,” Remulla said in a press conference.

He added that the focus is on whether the creation and sale of the subsidiary may have been used to circumvent legal requirements.

“Kung hindi mo nga nabenta iyong isa, pero gagawa ka naman ng subsidiary, baka naman pinaiikutan mo na iyong batas. It should be common sense to all of us that such situation should not happen. In any case, we are studying it,” he said.

The Ombudsman has not yet indicated any formal charges, noting that the matter is still under study.