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| Ignacio in one of his final public events as OWWA administrator |
United Filipinos-Migrante Hong Kong has called for an immediate audit of the funds held by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in the wake of the sacking of its administrator, Arnell Ignacio, over his alleged anomalous purchase of a parcel of land for Php1.4 billion using the agency’s funds.
In a statement released yesterday, Unifil-Migrante
also urged for a quick investigation of Ignacio so he can be held accountable for
misusing money set aside for overseas Filipino workers.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said in an interview yesterday that Ignacio was removed from his post because of the government’s loss of trust in him following an investigation into the reportedly anomalous land purchase.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
In a phone interview with a local media outlet,
Ignacio reportedly said he would address the allegations in due time at an
appropriate forum.
The questionable transaction first surfaced after a letter sent to Malacanang and various governemnt agencies by "concerned OWWA employees" alleged that apart from using OWWA funds to buy a "worthless" parcel of land, Ignacio also pocketed an undisclosed amount in rent from commercial spaces on the property starting in November last year, Php84 million from not paying the correct tax on the purchase, and Php70 million as "broker's fee."
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Ignacio also allegedly executed a side contract that allowed the seller, a certain Mr Medina, to get a "refund" of Php36 million, but demanded that it be handed back when news of the irregular sale was first reported to the administration in September last year.
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| Ignacio, Cacdac and Caunan (3rd,5th and 9th from left) pose with legislators who approved the DMW and OWWA budget for 2025 |
Caunan also pledged to
lead the “necessary audit” of OWWA after getting a legal opinion from the Department
of Justice and consulting with the Commission on Audit.
But she hastened to add that the money used for the
apparently anomalous land purchase did not come from the OWWA Trust Fund, but
from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.
Reports said budget
records show that the OWWA Fund stands at P2.973 billion while the GAA funding
for the agency is at P3.409 billion.
Caunan also disclosed that
an OFW dormitory was supposed to be built on the controversial property which
is near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Under the law that created OWWA the Board is headed by
the Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers while the OWWA administrator
is vice chairman.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The members include the secretaries of the Departments
of Labor and Employment, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Budget and Management ,
as well as the president of the Social Security System. There is also a representative
each from the women, land-based and sea-based sectors, as well as the recruitment and manning sectors.
Caunan said that under the same law, any land purchase
could only be done with the consent of the Board of Trustees.
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| Ignacio doing the zumba with OFWs on Chater Road: Unifil says he downplayed their problems |
In its statement Unifil said it was just right that Ignacio was sacked over his mishandling of OWWA funds.
It was not the first time that Ignacio had used OWWA’s
money without prior consultation, said Unifil, citing his move to set up the
OFW Global Centre on an entire floor of upmarket United Centre in Admiralty at
a cost of HK$8 M each year.
“Samantalang
pahirapan ang pagbibigay ng direct assistance sa mga may problema
kagaya ng mga OFWs sa mga bansang may gera at stranded sa Pilipinas,” said
Unifil.
The
group also recalled Ignacio saying that OFWs in Hong Kong only wanted to be
happy and entertained, in blatant disregard for the many challenges that they
face daily while working on foreign soil.
