PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. formally created a three-man Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that will look into infrastructure programs undertaken in the last 10 years, starting with controversial flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In Executive Order 94 dated yesterday, Marcos said the ICI will be composed of a chairperson and two members “who shall all be persons of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.”
The chairperson and members — who may be entitled to per diems and allowances, in accordance with laws, rules, and regulations- has yet to be named by the President.
The plan to create an independent body that will investigate alleged irregularities and corruption in DPWH projects was announced by the President earlier this month. Last Tuesday, he said he would announce in “48 hours” the body’s functions and composition. He has said he wants a lawyer or former justice, an investigator, and a forensic auditor to be included in the body.
Among names being floated are former Supreme Court associate justices Antonio Carpio and Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former police chief Nicolas Torre III, and former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.
Marcos, in the EO posted in the Official Gazette yesterday, said the ICI shall, “on complaint or motu proprio, hear, investigate, receive, gather, and evaluate evidence, intelligence reports, and information, against all government officials and employees, and any other individual, involved in anomalies, irregularities, and misuse of funds in the planning, financing, and implementation of government flood control and other infrastructure projects nationwide.”
It is authorized to issue subpoenas to witnesses and for production of documents needed in its fact-finding and investigation activities.
The probe would also include violations of Republic Act No. 3109 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; RA No. 1379 on the unlawful acquisition of property by a public officer or employee; RA No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, among others.
At the House, Rep. Antonio Tinio (PL, ACT) yesterday demanded the immediate resignation of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana for what he said are clear constitutional violations involving over P505.13 million in government contracts awarded to the company of his contractor wife Marilou Laurio Lipana, the president and general manager of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Philippines.
During the budget hearing of the House committee on appropriation on the COA’s P13.8-billion proposed budget for 2026, Tinio said Olympus bagged at least nine government contracts this year for flood control projects and farm-to-market roads in Bulacan, totaling P326.609 million.
Tinio said that out of the first nine projects that Olympus bagged, five had been partially paid and these are all on top of the two completed flood control projects worth P178.52 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,” he said.
Tinio said that while Lipana was in Singapore undergoing medical treatment for months, his wife was profiting millions and millions of pesos from government contracts. “This is not just a conflict of interest — this is a mockery of our Constitution,” he said.
COA Chair Gamaliel Cordoba said his “personal opinion” is that there is a “potential conflict of interest.”
Cordoba also confirmed that the projects were awarded to Olympus Mining and Builders while Lipana is a sitting commissioner.
Cordoba, on the questioning of Rep. Eli San Fernando (PL, Kamanggagawa) who also raised the issue of “ghost projects,” Cordoba said the COA, for the past 10 years, has issued against the DPWH 8,294 notices of suspension amounting to some P303.69 billion; 1,985 notices of disallowance worth P5.8 billion; and 54 notices of charge worth P8.8 million.
It was Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian who first urged the Senate Blue Ribbon committee to look into the construction company of Lipana’s wife after it was reported that the firm cornered almost P200 million worth of flood control projects from the DPWH.
Rep. Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal) said Lipana could soon face impeachment and urged Cordoba to personally talk to the commissioner, which the COA chair agreed to.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) summoned Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., for him to personally explain his campaign donations to Sen. Francis Escudero during the May 2022 polls.
Centerways is said to be among the top contractors for flood control projects.
“The show cause order was issued earlier. At the same time, he was invited to appear in a meeting or hearing by the Comelec,” said Comelec Chairman George Garcia.
Escudero has confirmed Lubiano’s donation. Lubiano also admitted donating P30 million to Escudero’s campaign while his firm held several government contracts. – With Wendell Vilgilia, Gerard Naval and Ashzel Hachero
