VETERAN lawmaker Senator Loren Legarda may rejoin the Senate majority bloc once she returns to the country from an extended medical leave, her spokesperson announced, amidst ongoing political shifts and legal scrutiny back home.
Speaking during a recent interview, Atty. Tony La Viña, spokesperson for Legarda, did not rule out the possibility of the senator communicating with colleagues about shifting alliances.
Pointing to the upper chamber’s frequent leadership changes—which have seen four Senate Presidents over the past four years—La Viña noted that realignments remain standard practice in Philippine politics.
Legarda currently belongs to the 11-member minority bloc after joining those who opposed the election of Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian last June.
However, La Viña emphasized her strong working relationships across the aisle, stating that she is “universally loved” by her colleagues.
The senator has been on official medical leave since August, receiving treatment abroad for long-standing immune and lung-related conditions.
According to Senate Secretary Rey Bantug, her leave has been extended through October 9, making it her sixth consecutive request for absence.
Her prolonged absence comes amid heightened political and legal tension.
The Office of the Ombudsman is currently investigating a plunder and graft case against Legarda and her son, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, concerning solar energy projects reportedly valued at over ₱10 billion.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla recently remarked that the pair appear to be staying abroad to avoid accountability, a claim La Viña vehemently denied as “lawfare” and political persecution.
La Viña clarified that Legarda’s health conditions are exacerbated by stress, necessitating her extended treatment in France, but affirmed that she is “raring” to return to the Senate—possibly by November—once cleared by her doctors.
He reiterated that no legal restrictions prevent her return and rejected claims that her absence is tied to the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, asserting that Legarda remains a master of political navigation who intends to address all issues upon her arrival.