ACT Teachers Party-list Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio has called for the immediate resignation of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, citing a “clear-cut violation” of the Constitution over ₱505.13 million worth of government contracts awarded to the company of Lipana’s wife.
Commissioner Lipana, appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022, is now under fire after revelations during the COA budget briefing exposed his wife’s direct involvement in government infrastructure projects.
According to Tinio, Marilou Laurio Lipana, President and General Manager of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines, received nine government contracts in 2025 for flood control and farm-to-market road projects in Bulacan amounting to ₱326.609 million. This is in addition to two completed flood control projects worth ₱178.52 million.
“This is a clear-cut violation of Article 9, Section 2 of the Constitution which states that no member of a constitutional commission shall be financially interested directly or indirectly in any contract with the government,” Tinio declared.
“Walang pagdududa dito—may malinaw na paglabag sa Konstitusyon.”
The most damning moment came during Tinio’s exchange with COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba.
When asked directly, “Pero is there a violation of the Constitution sa ganitong sitwasyon?”
“Sa pagtingin ko po, medyo meron po.” Cordoba responded:
“Para po sa akin, personally, there’s a potential conflict of interest.”
Tinio emphasized that these contracts were not publicly disclosed and that five of the nine projects had already received partial payments.
“Batay sa dokumentong isinumite ng COA, mayroong siyam na mga proyekto ngayong taon ang kumpanya ng asawa ni Commissioner Lipana na umabot na sa mahigit ₱326 million. Sa siyam na proyektong ito, lima ang nagkaroon na ng first partial payment. Bukod pa ito sa dalawang proyektong nasa Sumbong sa Pangulo website na nagkakahalaga namang ₱178.5 million.”
He also criticized Lipana’s prolonged medical leave in Singapore, saying it compounded the ethical breach.
“Habang nasa Singapore siya nagpapagamot for months, ang asawa niya ay kumikita ng milyun-milyong piso mula sa government contracts. This is not just a conflict of interest—this is a mockery of our Constitution.”
Tinio did not mince words in expressing public frustration:
“Marami po, dismayado sa COA na parang ang feeling ng maraming kababayan natin, nasan kayo? Natutulog ba kayo sa pansitan? O mas masagwa pa nga, baka kasabwat din kayo dito. Tapos ngayon, meron po tayong commissioner na may malinaw na financial interest sa mga kontrata ng flood control na pinagbabawal ng Konstitusyon.”
“Kaya alang-alang po sa kredibilidad ng COA, hindi ba dapat mag-resign na ang Commissioner na ito?” the progressive solon demanded.
“How can the Commission on Audit maintain its integrity when one of its commissioners is constitutionally disqualified from serving?”
Tinio also reminded the public that such financial interests must be declared in the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).
“Nakalagay po sa SALN yung mga corporations owned by the family. This should have been declared and addressed long ago.”
“This is not about the quality of flood control projects. This is about the fundamental principle that constitutional commissioners cannot profit from government contracts. The Constitution is clear, the COA Chair’s admission is clear, and the solution must be equally clear: Commissioner Lipana must resign immediately,” Tinio concluded. (RRN)
