MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday assured that Leandro Leviste will enjoy due process of law, saying the Batangas lawmaker has not yet been considered a fugitive.
Officer-in-charge Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan said prosecutors follow a process before declaring a person facing a case a fugitive.
“As of now, not yet. There is a process that needs to be followed before we can declare him a fugitive from justice,” Abugan said.
He added that the DOJ has yet to take any steps to cancel Leviste’s passport in relation to the arrest warrant issued against him by the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 on Oct. 5 for alleged violation of the Public Service Act following an unimplemented multi-billion-peso solar energy project.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the next steps in the case rest with the prosecution, noting that passport cancellation and an Interpol Red Notice remain potential tools that can be used through proper legal processes.
“The prosecutors control where the journey of the case will go,” Vida said.
“There’s a process. Declaring a fugitive from justice, the cancellation of passport; these are tools to be used by the prosecutors for any accused to recognize the jurisdiction of the court.”
Abugan said Leviste has an opportunity to appear before the court at the scheduled hearing before the next steps in the case are determined.
“Also, the court would give him an opportunity to appear before it on a scheduled hearing, and until then, we will see the next steps that we can do,” he added. (PNA)
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste
