Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima says Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana could very well face impeachment proceedings from the House of Representatives if he doesn't resign from his post. (Video courtesy of House of Representatives)
00:00I was listening earlier to the questioning and the interpolations of both Congressman Eli Sanfernando and Congressman Tineo.
00:12And I was simply appalled by the fact that the commissioner concern, you were talking about the commissioner earlier, remains to be in office.
00:23For me, it's a clear case, not only of potential conflict of interest. It's not a potential conflict of interest.
00:30It's real, actual conflict of interest.
00:35Yes, it's also clear from the Constitution that members of the Constitutional Commissions, like COA, may be removed only by impeachment.
00:45And it's clear also that a matter of resignation is a personal one, so no one can force anyone to resign.
00:57Okay. You also told us earlier that he is on official leave. Would you know how long is the official leave?
01:05Your Honours, he is on medical leave until the end of September.
01:09Okay, on medical leave. Now, don't you think that the COA leadership, especially the COA chairperson, would take it upon himself, would take the initiative of talking to the commissioner?
01:25Yes, Your Honours.
01:27Have you done so?
01:28We will do that, because he has been on leave since early part of August, because he has been undergoing medication.
01:38I think, what is that? Almost two years.
01:41So, please do that.
01:42Yes, we will do that.
01:43Please talk to him once he reports back to office. Otherwise, one of us, or some of us, may initiate impeachment proceedings against him, because it clearly falls under one of the grounds, betrayal of public trust.
01:59And also, even graft and corruption. You know, that it's a very broad, but when you say graft, it's about pocketing money, but certain violations like, you know, the conflict of interest situation that he is in.
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