MANILA— A Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) has issued a warrant of arrest against Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, with bail set at P72,000.

Makati RTC Branch 235 issued the warrant on October 5, according to a copy furnished to reporters by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“You are hereby commanded to arrest LEANDRO ANTONIO L. LEVISTE, who is/are said to be found in/at N/A, PARAISO, CALATAGAN, BATANGAS, CALABARZON or elsewhere, and who has/have been charged before me with the offense of PUBLIC SERVICE ACT SECTION 25 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 146, AS AMENDED BY RA NO. 11659) and bring him/her/them forthwith before me to be dealt with according to law,” the warrant read.

The case involves an alleged violation of Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659, or the Public Service Act.

The court directed law enforcement officers to arrest Leviste and bring him before the court for appropriate proceedings. Copies of the warrant were furnished to the Philippine National Police Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management and the concerned chief of police or station commander.

The arrest warrant comes amid an investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman into alleged graft and plunder involving Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, in connection with alleged irregularities involving solar energy projects and service contracts linked to Leviste’s companies.

Leviste has also faced scrutiny over unfinished solar energy projects.

NBI coordinates with agencies

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Wednesday that the bureau was coordinating with other government agencies on possible measures concerning Leviste.

“Our information as of now is that Leviste is currently abroad,” Matibag said in a television interview.

Matibag said the NBI would coordinate with the Bureau of Immigration to verify Leviste’s immigration status and whereabouts and with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding possible measures involving his passport.

Authorities may also ask the House of Representatives to cancel Leviste’s travel authority, he added.

The NBI said it had no information on when Leviste would return to the Philippines.

Leviste left the country on August 2, days after the Ombudsman announced the plunder investigation involving him and Legarda.

Lawyer Tony La Viña, Legarda’s spokesperson, previously said the senator was in France on medical leave due to a lung illness and was undergoing treatment there. He said Leviste had been taking care of his mother.

Leviste, meanwhile, thanked his supporters in a Facebook post following news of the arrest warrant.

“Salamat sa lahat ng sumusuporta. Huwag niyo akong alalahanin, maliit na bagay lang ito kumpara sa ibang nangyayari. Kayo ang inaalala ko,” the lawmaker said.