DMW prepares raps vs. Ignacio, others over alleged unauthorized ₱1.4B land deal

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Department of Migrant Workers on Sunday, May 18, said it is preparing the filing of cases against sacked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnell Ignacio and other officials for an unauthorized ₱1.4-billion land acquisition deal.

“We are preparing the filing of the proper cases for all those who may be possibly involved in this anomalous transaction,“ Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac told NewsWatch Plus.

Cacdac said Ignacio supposedly planned to use the land for a “half-way house” intended to accommodate “a huge number” of returning overseas Filipino workers.

He said the proposal, specifically six critical counts regarding the issue, did not pass the OWWA Board of Trustees but the deed of sale still pushed through.

“I would have advised him, of course, that it’s not simple because OWWA is not in the business of running a half-way home or a hostel of that magnitude,” he said.

Earlier, newly appointed OWWA administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan said the office will be auditing the supposed project.

Ignacio has yet to address allegations on the matter. In a message, he said: “I (will) comment at the right time.”

Cacdac also said Ignacio was removed and replaced due to “loss of trust and confidence” due to his ties to the supposedly unauthorized billion-peso project.

The secretary also said the issue has been raised to the Office of the President.

Ignacio was replaced by Caunan on Friday, May 16.