Potential impeachment raps vs. COA Commissioner Lipana over contractor-spouse

Metro Manila, Philippines - A lawmaker has raised a potential impeachment complaint for conflict of interest against Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, whose spouse is a flood control project contractor.

Lipana’s wife, Marilou Laurio-Lipana, is president and general manager of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corporation. The company bagged nearly P200 million in flood control projects in 2024, according to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.

“Personal position ko po ay [It’s my personal position that] there’s a potential conflict of interest,” COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba told a House of Representatives budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio both said Lipana’s conflict of interest issue raises a question of integrity and credibility of the constitutional body in light of an ongoing public audit on alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

In his interpellation, Tinio cited the Constitution that no member of a constitutional commission shall be financially interested directly or indirectly in any contract with or in any franchise or privilege granted by the government.

Cordoba said Lipana has financial interests in the business of his spouse.

Tinio, a deputy minority leader, asked whether Lipana should already resign.

“Your honor, that is his, kanya pong decision po ‘yun at hindi po sa amin [that is his decision not ours],” Cordoba said. “Tinignan ko nga po sa Constitution din [I also looked over the Constitution], the chairperson or the commission does not have [disciplinary] authority over one of its commissioners.”

Members of constitutional bodies like COA are impeachable officials.

ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said she’s appalled that Lipana remains in office, and pointed out a “clear case of real conflict of interest.”

De Lima urged the COA to talk to the commissioner, but Cordoba said Lipana is on medical for treatment in Singapore from August to September. This has been Lipana’s practice for two years, he added.

“Please talk to him once he reports back to office. Otherwise, one of us or some of us may initiate impeachment proceedings against him,” De Lima said.

She said the issue clearly fell under betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, which are grounds for impeachment.

“When you say graft it’s not just about pocketing money but certain violations like conflict of interest situation that he is in,” the lawmaker said.

Flood control projects cornered by Lipana’s wife

The company of Lipana’s wife, Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corporation, bagged two flood control projects, according to the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.

The contracts are P86 million and P91 million for the construction of flood control structures along San Miguel River in Brgy. Batasan, Bata, San Miguel, Bulacan. They were completed in 2024.

Tracy Ann Sunico, supervising auditor of the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, said Olympus Mining and Builders Group also got six flood control projects in 2025.

Sunico said the company has been paid around P326 million so far for the progress billing.

“Based on records, nakapag-issue ng notice of disallowance ‘yong auditor natin relevant sa transactions ng asawa,” she told the House committee on appropriations when asked about the steps taken by the COA related to the conflict of interest.

[Translation: Based on records, state auditors have issued a notice of disallowance on relevant transactions of Lipana’s wife.]

Cordoba said the commission has conducted an internal investigation, as state auditors follow commission guidelines to prioritize controversial projects reported in the media.