Kiko questions COA commissioner's alleged links to P1.4-B budget insertions

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Tuesday questioned the alleged involvement of Commission on Audit (COA) commissioner Mario Lipana to alleged anomalies in flood control projects, following the revelation of dismissed Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

In his affidavit, Alcantara alleged that Lipana asked him for a list of projects that can be funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The COA commissioner's request was supposedly funded under the unprogrammed appropriations in 2023 at P500 million, 2024 at P400 million, and 2025 at P500 million.

Asked by Pangilinan if he had any idea that Lipana's wife owns a construction firm, Alcantara said, "At that time, hindi ko pa po alam na contractor 'yung wife niya. Hindi ko pa kasi nami-meet even before at that time."

(At that time, I didn't know that his wife was a contractor. I haven't met them before.) 

Alcantara said Lipana mostly messaged him on Viber using disappearing messages when asking for the list of flood control projects. 

The former DPWH engineer also denied that he received anything in return from Lipana for the budget insertions amounting to P1.4 billion.

Pangilinan then made a manifestation that the case of Lipana be brought to the Senate committee on justice and human rights, which he chairs, saying the allegation seems an "impeachable offense." 

"Mr. Chairman, at the right time, we should perhaps refer the matter of Commissioner Lipana's involvement, based on the testimony of Engineer Alcantara, to the Committee on Justice because this looks like an impeachable offense," the senator said. 

Lipana's links to government contracts earlier surfaced during the budget hearing in the House of Representatives as his wife owns a construction firm. — VDV, GMA Integrated News