Proposal to impeach COA bigwig on hold

Plans to impeach Audit commissioner Mario Lipana are shelved.

Lipana, 66, was implicated last year in P1.4-billion “allocables,” or overpriced DPWH contracts. State witnesses ex-Usec. Roberto Bernardo and Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara swore in Senate inquiries that he took cuts from flood work allocations.

Lipana’s wife Marilou Laurio, 54, was also reported to own three companies with hundred million-peso contracts with DPWH and DENR. The Commission on Audit scrutinizes contract performance and payments received from government agencies.

If not impeached soon, Lipana will retire on Feb. 2, 2027. He will be entitled to retirement benefits for 44 years in civil service, plus monthly pension equivalent to present pay – around P240,000.

The Constitution forbids an audit, civil service or election commissioner from “holding any other office or employment; neither shall he engage in the practice of any profession or in the active management or control of any business which in any way may be affected by the functions of his office;

“Nor shall he be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege granted by the Government, any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations or their subsidiaries.” (Article IX, Constitutional Commissions, Section 2)

Alcantara incriminated Lipana on Sept. 23, 2025 at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee: “Noong 2022 humingi si Lipana sa akin ng listahan ng flood control projects sa Bulacan. Wala akong personal knowledge kung paano nila nakuha ang pondo at kung sino ang kausap nila.”

Lipana got P500 million for flood mitigation in 2023, P400 million in 2024 and P500 million in 2025 – P1.4 billion in all, Alcantara said.

Bernardo confirmed Alcantara’s assertions. He told the BRC that Lipana was among the high officials who took cuts from flood control allocations.

After questioning the two, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan remarked: “Paano magiging maayos ang audit kung mayroong hinihiling na proyekto sa inyo? We should perhaps refer the matter of Commissioner Lipana’s involvement to the Senate committee on justice because this looks like an impeachable offense.”

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima picked up the issue. She said in an interview Nov. 25 with broadcaster Ted Failon, “I am convinced this is covered by all-encompassing betrayal of public trust.” She was to collaborate with ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kamanggagawa Rep. Eli San Fernando.

But Pangilinan and De Lima are now busy with the 92-day trial of impeached VP Sara Duterte. Pangilinan is a senator-judge and De Lima a congresswoman-prosecutor.

The justice committee’s probe was “held in abeyance in deference to the BRC investigation,” Pangilinan told this writer yesterday. De Lima said “no impeachment complaint filed yet.” Tinio said, “Wala po kaming plano mag-file [ng kaso].” San Fernando did not reply to queries for update.

Lipana absented from the BRC. He went on medical leave starting Aug. 1, 2025. That was after President Bongbong Marcos’ State of the Nation on July 28, when he revealed the extent of the flood works scandal and told the scammers, “Mahiya naman kayo!”

Wife Laurio came under press scrutiny. Bilyonaryo News reported Sept. 25 that her Olympus Mining and Builders Group had nine ongoing DPWH contracts in Bulacan. Those included flood controls and farm-to-market roads worth P326.6 million. Olympus also received P178.52 million for flood works.

Right to Know Right Now coalition followed up on Oct. 14. It cited DPWH’s P959-million contract in 2021 for the new COA building in Quezon City. A main contractor was Le Bron Construction. A sole proprietorship, Le Bron was a partner of Laurio’s Olympus in nine of the latter’s 22 DPWH contracts in 2023-2025.

Le Bron’s manager is an incorporator of Laurio’s Iron Ore. Another incorporator is surnamed Lipana. Not mentioned is the latter’s relation to COA’s Lipana, who wedded Laurio in October 2022.

Laurio first hit the headlines in October 2024 when she and another government contractor ran as first and third nominees of a vendor’s party-list. Kontra Daya election watchdog criticized her party, among others, for claiming to represent the marginalized but actually consists of multimillionaires.

Ted Failon asked her about her two ongoing DPWH contracts, each for P95 million in June 2024 for roadway lighting in Meycauayan and Marilao, Bulacan.

This column reported the 2021 bid of Laurio’s Iron Ore, Gold and Vanadium Resources for DENR’s offshore magnetite mining in 10,000 hectares of Lingayen Gulf. Also the March 2022 bid of her Gembar Enterprises for MMDA’s solar-powered LED streetlights in seven Quezon City locations.

Lipana joined COA in 1983. On Jan. 17, 2022 president Rody Duterte appointed him COA commissioner for a seven-year term till Feb. 2, 2027.

The Civil Service Commission requires retiring officials to file their intention with the agency’s HR department 120 days prior. Clearances and application documents must be given to the concerned pension agency 90 days prior. Benefits, gratuities and terminal leave payments are released 30 days before retirement.

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