Legarda battling ‘serious illness,’ forgoing salary during leave – Senate President

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 30, 2026

Photo courtesy: Senate of the Philippines

MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda is dealing with a “serious illness” and has not been receiving her salary while on medical leave, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian disclosed Legarda’s condition on Thursday, August 27, after he was asked when the senator might return to work.

He said Legarda had personally informed him about her health condition but did not disclose the specific illness, citing only that it was serious.

Legarda has been absent from Senate sessions since late July. She initially filed medical leave for August. 3 to 5 and later extended it to cover August 11 to 12, August 7 to 19, and August 24 to 26. Another leave was filed for September 1 to 2.

According to Gatchalian, Legarda voluntarily stopped receiving her salary during her absence.

Legarda earlier urged the public to be discerning amid what she called false allegations linked to her medical leave and reported departure from the country.

Bureau of Immigration records confirmed that Legarda and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, separately left the Philippines on August 2 through Hong Kong and traveled to France.

Her absence comes amid a preliminary investigation ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman involving Legarda, Leviste and former Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi over allegations connected to government rights involving solar energy resources. Legarda and Leviste have denied wrongdoing.