 |
| Sinclair (middle) with the late Secretary Susan Ople, and then Undersecretaries Hans Cacdac,Antonette Allones and PY Caunan |
Malacanang press officer Claire Castro made the announcement
at a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, saying Sinclair was removed due to
loss of trust and confidence.
Sinclair’s removal followed that of former OWWA
administrator Arnell Ignacio, who was alleged to have entered into the
anomalous land deal without obtaining prior approval from the OWWA board of
trustees, which is required by law.
 |
| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Castro said that their removal should serve as a
warning to other public servants to do their jobs with professionalism, honesty, and
integrity.
“Tanggalin ang
panloloko o lokohan sa inyong pagtatrabaho,” Castro stressed. “Dahil hindi po mangingimi ang Pangulong
tanggalin kayo sa pwesto. You will all be fired, kapag hindi ninyo tinupad ang
inyong mga obligasyon sa bayan.”
(Do not cheat or fool around while at work because the
President will not hesitate to remove you from your post. You will all be fired
if you do not perform your duty to the country).
 |
| Castro said Sinclair's sacking should serve as warning to other public servants |
She also
emphasized that both officials were removed and did not
resign, in apparent reference to a statement purportedly made by Ignacio that
he resigned because of work-related stress.
''Maliban po
diyan, mayroon pa pong isa na makakasama, ang deputy [administrator] na si Emma
Sinclair, pareho po silang tinanggal. Hindi po sila pinag resign,'' Castro
said.
(Apart from Ignacio, there is another one who was
also removed, Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair. Both were fired, they were
not asked to resign.)
A letter sent to Malacanang, Migrant Workers Secretary
Hans Cacdac, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Department of Justice by “concerned
OWWA employees” alleged that Ignacio and Sinclair acted together in buying the “worthless”
piece of land.
Subsequent reports said the land which is located
beside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was meant to be site of a half-way
house for overseas Filipino workers. However, the whistleblowers said the land
was unsuitable for the purpose because it adjoins the airport’s runway.
They also claimed that the two officials and the seller,
a Mr Medina, colluded in not paying the right tax for the property, allowing
them to collect the Php86-million difference. A further sum of Php70 million in
“broker’s fee” was also unaccounted for.
 |
| Basahin ang detalye! |
Aside from these, the letter-writers questioned the suspicious
“refund” of Php36 million made to the seller in a side contract, as well as rental
payments from the commercial establishments on the land from the time the title
to the property was registered in the Philippine government’s name in November
last year.
Last week, Malacanang announced Ignacio’s removal and his immediate
replacement by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Patricia
Yvonne Caunan as OWWA administrator.
