A motu proprio investigation is ongoing in relation to Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife over their alleged involvement in government projects through Olympus Mining Corp., according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.
Remulla explained in a press briefing on Monday that Olympus Mining Corp. – a construction company headed by Commissioner Mario’s wife, Marilou Laurio Lipana – reportedly took part in public works and supply contracts, including the construction of the COA’s headquarters.
‘Yes, I got files last Friday. I had a meeting and I got a rundown of files about the alleged activities of Commissioner Mario Lipana and his wife and their Olympus Mining Corp. that participated in government projects,’ he said.
‘Not only government projects in DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) but also supply of fire trucks and other government stuff,’ he added.
Asked about the construction of the new COA building, Remulla said they also got the information about it and will ‘work on it.’
‘This is a work in progress; we are still building up the teams that will evaluate. Yes, yes, the [investigation in the] COA [building] is ongoing,’ he added.
The Ombudsman probe follows a report released by the Right to Know, Right Now (R2KRN) coalition last October 15.
Based on the report, the commissioner’s wife headed a construction firm that had business ties with a contractor for the COA’s new headquarters in Quezon City.
According to R2KRN, the DPWH awarded a P959-million contract in 2021 for the new COA building to a joint venture between R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. and Le Bron Construction. Le Bron was identified as a joint-venture partner of Olympus.
The coalition also 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.
Although Commissioner Lipana was not yet part of the commission when the contract for its new headquarters was awarded, he was already a senior COA officer at the time.
The group warned that the apparent business connections between Lipana’s family and government contractors raised potential conflict-of-interest and ethical issues under the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The Inquirer emailed Commissioner Lipana regarding Remulla’s pronouncements, but he has yet to reply as of posting time. It also tried to call his office for comments regarding the R2KRN’s earlier revelations, but was told by his staff that he was still on medical leave.