Erring OWWA execs’ removal stern warning vs. corruption: Palace

Former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration director Arnell Ignacio. (File photo: Arnell Ignacio/Facebook)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The dismissal of former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) director Arnell Ignacio and deputy administrator Emma Sinclair was a stern warning that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has zero tolerance for corruption, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that Ignacio and Sinclair were sacked because of their supposed involvement in the OWWA’s questionable PHP1.4-billion land acquisition deal without approval from the agency’s Board of Trustees.

Castro told Palace reporters that Marcos had lost his trust and confidence in Ignacio and Sinclair.

“Pareho po silang tinanggal. Hindi sila pinag-resign. Ito lamang po ay isang senyales, maaari nating sabihin na ito ay panawagan ng Pangulo sa lahat ng mga nagtatrabaho sa ilalim niya na gampanan ninyo ang inyong trabaho, tanggalin ang panloloko o lokohan sa inyong pagtatrabaho (Both of them were fired. They were not asked to resign. This is just a warning, we can say that this is the President’s call to all those working under him to do your job, to stop irregularities or doing irregularities in your work),” she said in a Palace press briefing.

“Hindi po [mag-aatubili] ang Pangulong tanggalin kayo sa pwesto (The President will not hesitate to remove you from your post). You will all be fired, kapag hindi ninyo tinupad ang inyong mga obligasyon sa (if you fail to fulfill your obligations to the people),” Castro added.

Malacañang first announced on May 16 that Marcos had named Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan as the new OWWA administrator, replacing Ignacio.

On May 17, Caunan announced that DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac is investigating the land purchase deal entered into by the OWWA under Ignacio’s watch.

Cacdac on Tuesday said no one will be spared from the ongoing investigation into the OWWA’s PHP1.4-billion land deal, calling it a matter of accountability and public trust.

He said the DMW is scrutinizing the alleged procedural lapses and lack of proper authorization in the land acquisition located near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City for a halfway house project or dormitory-type accommodation for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).