Loren extends medical leave
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda will be absent from regular legislative sessions and the ongoing impeachment trial for a second consecutive week after extending her official medical leave, Senate officials confirmed yesterday.
Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed yesterday that Legarda would remain absent from legislative proceedings early this week.
“Senator Legarda will be on medical leave from 11 to 12 August 2026,” Bantug stated, quoting a letter sent by the senator’s office.
This marks her second week on medical leave, following her initial absence from Aug. 3 to 5.
Her absence coincides with a preliminary investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman into non-bailable plunder and graft complaints against her and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.
Legarda is accused by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla of using her post to secure exclusive solar power franchises for Leviste that allegedly resulted in multi-billion-peso “ghost electricity” losses.
Despite her absence from the Senate floor, Legarda issued a statement addressing the plight of workers navigating the country’s recent string of typhoons and monsoon rains.
She renewed her push for Senate Bill 520, or the proposed Calamity Work Compensation Act, which would legally mandate a 30 percent additional daily wage for private sector employees required to work onsite during Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3, 4, 5 or an equivalent calamity level.
“If a worker is required to report for duty amidst a typhoon or flooding to maintain operations and ensure the continuity of service, it is only right to acknowledge and compensate for the additional risks and expenses borne by them. This must be accompanied by fair additional compensation and adequate protection,” Legarda said.
The proposed measure clarifies that it does not replace existing hazard pay, nor does it encourage workers to recklessly endanger themselves.
As an alternative to monetary compensation, the bill allows employers to implement a “Calamity Work Contingency Plan,” provided it is approved by the Department of Labor and Employment and concurred with by workers’ representatives. This contingency arrangement can include providing safe transportation, temporary shelter, food and occupational safety measures.
Beyond traditional employer-employee setups, Legarda sounded the alarm on the vulnerability of informal and platform-based workers, citing the recent tragedy in Antipolo City, where a delivery rider was killed after a tree and a utility pole fell on him while he was seeking shelter from heavy rains.
Meanwhile, amid growing scrutiny over absent senators, impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol yesterday assured the public that proceedings will continue as long as a quorum is present.
Tongol emphasized that the trial’s daily operations hinge entirely on the presence of a quorum, not perfect attendance.
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