Former Owwa administrator Arnell Ignacio—Owwa FB picture
MANILA, Philippines — The removing of Arnell Ignacio as administrator of the Abroad Staff Welfare Administration (Owwa) is President Marcos’ manner of warning authorities officers to form up or ship out, particularly if they’ve questionable offers, Malacañang mentioned on Wednesday.
At a press briefing, Presidential Communications Workplace Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro confused that Ignacio and Owwa Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair had been faraway from workplace and didn’t resign.
“He (Ignacio) was eliminated due to anomalies. They had been each eliminated, they weren’t requested to resign. It is a signal, a reminder from the President to all these working below him to do their jobs and never become involved in anomalies,” she mentioned. “The President won’t suppose twice in eradicating you out of your posts. You’ll all be fired if you don’t fulfill your obligations to the nation.”
READ: Ex-OWWA chief might face raps over P1.4-B land deal
Ignacio’s removing as Owwa chief got here to gentle final week after the Division of Migrant Staff (DMW) introduced the appointment and oathtaking of its undersecretary, Patricia Yvonne Caunan, as the brand new Owwa administrator.
Efficiency evaluate
Migrant Staff Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac revealed that Ignacio, who was first appointed as Owwa chief in 2022, was eliminated in reference to a P1.4-billion land acquisition deal that didn’t have the authorization of the Owwa board of trustees.
Days after Ignacio’s removing, Marcos posted the primary episode of his BBM Podcast on Monday and admitted that whereas he wished to be regarded with respect, he might should placed on a fiercer or sterner demeanor in coping with corrupt authorities officers.
“I’ve been advised by many individuals that I’m too good. What can I do, be a foul particular person? I can’t change my persona. However generally I feel I needs to be fiercer in order that these below me will likely be extra environment friendly … I need to be revered, however possibly concern is healthier,” the President mentioned.
He added that authorities officers will likely be present process a efficiency evaluate to examine if they’re hitting their targets or are concerned in corruption.
“We’re doing a efficiency evaluate, so axing folks would possibly occur. That’s my warning to them. If they’ve shortcomings or are corrupt, or in the event that they dedicated a grave violation, they’d face prices,” Marcos warned.
Ignacio, together with Sinclair, was the topic of a whistleblowers’ grievance addressed to the President himself.
Cacdac earlier mentioned the DMW already started its formal investigation of the land acquisition deal to find out the fees to be filed towards these concerned within the deal and if the deal will push by way of or not.
Questionable deal
The P 1.4-billion deal concerned the acquisition of a 1.5-hectare property beside Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport in September 2024 that was supposedly for a midway home for abroad Filipino employees (OFWs).
Nonetheless, the property was deemed unsuitable for improvement as a consequence of its proximity to the airport runway.
Whistleblowers from inside Owwa claimed that the company’s board of trustees didn’t approve the contract to promote, the deed of sale, and the supplemental settlement in reference to the acquisition.
The Palace mentioned the letter led to Ignacio’s “speedy removing” from his publish.
The whistleblowers alleged that Ignacio and Sinclair fast-tracked the transaction and conspired with the vendor and their attorneys to misrepresent tax obligations by passing off the sale of land as a capital good points transaction as a substitute of subjecting it to value-added tax, which allegedly decreased the tax legal responsibility by P84 million.
Final week, Caunan gave assurances that the P 2.973-billion Owwa Fund, which comes from contributions of Filipinos working overseas, seafarers, and their employers, remained intact regardless of the controversial land deal.
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The quantity was on prime of the P3.409-billion allocation for the DMW below the 2025 nationwide price range. /cb
