Investigation over Lipana couple ‘a work in progress’
The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating the involvement of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife not only in flood control projects, but also in the supply of firetrucks.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said he was briefed about the alleged participation of Lipana and his wife Marilou in government projects and learned that the couple were allegedly involved in the supply of firetrucks and “other government stuff.” He did not elaborate.
“This is a work in progress. We are still building up the teams that will evaluate,’’ he said, referring to the Lipana couple’s possible role in the construction of a COA building in its central office in Quezon City.
Resignation calls
Commissioner Lipana, who is due to retire in 2027 and has gone on medical leave from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, has faced resignation calls for allegedly pocketing kickbacks from flood control projects and using his influence to help his wife’s company corner projects.
His wife is the president and general manager of Pasig City-based Olympus Mining and Builders Group Phils. Corp.
At a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing in late September, former Bulacan district engineer Henry Alcantara said Lipana had asked for a list of projects in Bulacan in 2022 and managed to have inserted at least P1.4 billion worth of projects in the next three years, presumably for his wife’s firm. Olympus had at least 11 projects in the district worth P1.026 billion.
COA building
Former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo had also named Lipana as among those who took cuts from allocations for flood control projects.
The Right to Know, Right Now coalition also divulged that the P959-million contract for a new COA building in Quezon City in 2021 was awarded to the joint venture of R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. and Le Bron Construction.
Le Bron Construction is the main joint venture partner of Olympus Mining.
Furthermore, the coalition found that Olympus entered into several joint ventures with Le Bron in various DPWH projects, including flood control structures and access roads in Bulacan, some of which were later linked to alleged “ghost” or substandard projects.
Ethical issues
Lipana was a senior COA officer when the contract for the agency’s new headquarters was awarded.
The group warned that the apparent business connections between Lipana’s family and government contractors raised potential conflict of interest and ethical issues.
