📷: Arnell Ignacio
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac has confirmed that Arnell Ignacio, the former administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, was removed from his position due to a questionable P1.4 billion land acquisition deal, contradicting Ignacio’s claim of resigning due to work stress.
Cacdac stated in an interview that Ignacio’s removal was based on a loss of trust and confidence linked to the deal, which bypassed the OWWA Board of Trustees multiple times.
“Former administrator Ignacio did not resign from office. He was removed and replaced on the count of loss of trust and confidence due to an anomalous P1.4 billion land acquisition deal that did not go through the OWWA Board of Trustees on at least six counts,” Cacdac said in an interview with GMA News online.
A letter from a DMW source revealed that OWWA employees had reported the alleged irregularities to various government offices last November, followed by accusations of ‘plunder’ against Ignacio and OWWA deputy administrator Emma Sinclair regarding a Php100 million misappropriation and the investment in a worthless property.
The letter also indicated that Ignacio had contacted the land seller to arrange a refund of Php36 million without the Board’s approval.
Cacdac emphasized that Ignacio failed to inform the Board about the deal on several occasions.
“He did not… inform the Board on at least six counts, on six matters, surrounding the P1.4 billion land acquisition deal,” Cacdac told GMA News.
Following this, Malacanang appointed DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan as Ignacio’s replacement. (ZIA LUNA)
