Philstar
Commissioner’s wife bags flood projects, COA admits conflict of interest
ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio is calling for the resignation of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana due to a potential conflict of interest.
Lipana's wife, Marilou Laurio, is the president and general manager of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines Corporation.
Her company has bagged 11 flood control contracts worth P1.012 billion in Bulacan from 2023 to 2025, with most awarded in 2025.
Tinio raised this issue during a House committee on appropriations hearing, questioning the propriety of Lipana's involvement in the COA's audit of flood control projects while his wife's company is a beneficiary.
COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba acknowledged the conflict of interest involving Commissioner Lipana.
Tinio invoked Article IX-A, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits members of constitutional commissions from having indirect financial interests in government contracts.
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