FDHs send home bulk of their income, survey shows

Sending money home has become a bigger expense for foreign domestic helpers, according to a survey conducted recently by the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM).

These remittances accounted for 63.98% of their total monthly budget, a significant increase from 31% in 2018, the survey found.

The survey was conducted in time for the celebration of International Domestic Workers Day today (June 16), “to update our understanding of the spending patterns of migrant workers since our last research in 2018,” the groups said.

Basahin ang detalye!

Among its findings was that 96.84% of respondents were sending money home.

The average remittance amount was $2,689, with 70% of respondents remitting between $2,000 and $5,000” per month, the two organizatons added.

The Minimum Allowable Wage for FDHs has been set at $4,990 per month since September 29, 2024, but 58% received the minimum allowable wage of $4,990 or below since many were still on contracts they signed when the minimum wage was $4,870 a month.

The survey showed that 14% of the respondents were underpaid.

Although 42 per cent received higher than minimum wage, the additional amount was not much higher as the average wage amounted to $5,099.24.

The second biggest expense is loan payments, which were made by 23% of migrant domestic workers. Over half of them spent $1,000 to $3,999 monthly on these loans.

Additionally, 5% of respondents incurred monthly agency fees, primarily new arrivals in Hong Kong for less than one year.

When other expenditures were counted, 26% of the respondents reported that their income was short by an average of 9%, the survey found.

“These findings highlight the financial challenges faced by migrant domestic workers and the need for continued advocacy and support. We call upon the community to join us in supporting migrant domestic workers' campaign for a living wage and address the financial challenges faced by migrant domestic workers,” the two rganizations dded

For its part, the Asian Migrants Coordinating Body Hong Kong (AMCB-IMA HKM) re-launched its 3Ws campaign to fight for Living Wage, Regulate Working Hours and Workers’ Rights of the 30,000 migrant workers in the territory.

“From January to June 2025, the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union (IMWU), Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU) and Mission for Migrant Workers Union (MFMW) have received complaints from more than 916 MDW” the group said. “The common complaints are long working hours, no regular day off, termination and accommodation problems.”

According to the AMCB-IMA HKM, 376 out of 916 (41%) work 11 to 16 hours a day, with 11% working for more than 16 hours.

In addition, more than 11% do not have a regular rest day and still work even on their day off before leaving their employers’ house.

“The large number of terminations, at least 4% of which are employer-initiated, is also worrying” the group said.

“In the past six months, there have been at least 349 cases of termination along with malicious ‘job-hopping’ accusations. Due to the worst working conditions MDWs were forced to terminate their contract but It seems like MDWs have no right to change employers even if they are struggling, while employers can change helpers anytime they want,” it added.

In celebration of International Domestic Workers Day, it is only right to recognize the contribution of Migrant Domestic Workers to our society, it said.

The AMCB-IMA HKM reiterated the demands to create jobs back home to address the root cause of migrations so families will no longer be separated, give MDWs a living wage of HK$6,172, regulate the ILO Domestic Workers Convention (ILO C189) to acknowledge domestic workers as equal to any other wage earners with an acceptable minimum standard for working conditions, create clear guidelines in the employment contract on what is suitable accommodation and uphold rights and dignity for all MDWs.

DAB lawmaker urges cap on FDH loans

DAB proposes capping the monthly loan repayment at no more than 30% of the FDW's salary
(File photo) 

A lawmaker from the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong has called on the government to put a limit on the amount of loan that a foreign domestic worker can obtain from financial institutions, ahead of a public consultation on over-borrowing by helpers.

Edward Leung is proposing that the loan should be based on the remaining period of a FDW’s two-year contract, and that the monthly payment for it should not exceed 30 percent of her/his income.

"For example, they have six more months left in their contract, and their monthly income is HK$5,000, then HK$1,500 times six months will be the total amount that they could borrow,” said Leung at a press conference Sunday.

PINDUTIN DITO

This means that a FDH earning the minimum allowable wage, and with six months left in her contract could borrow a maximum of $9,000, or $18,000 for those who still have a year to go. In either case, the monthly repayment should not be more than $1,500.

Leung said many employers and employment agencies that the group had consulted support this proposal.

Apart from legislating the amount that FDWs can borrow from lending companies, the government should also step up publicity and education to better protect employers and the workers, said Leung.

Basahin ang detalye!

The government consultation on FDW borrowings set for the end of June was prompted by complaints from a number of employers that they had been harassed and hounded by collectors for loans obtained by their helpers, or previous helpers.

Leung said the government should also require FDWs to attend a seminar on the issue within eight weeks of their arrival in Hong Kong, to acquaint them about their rights and the city’s laws.

FDWs from the Philippines are required to attend a post-arrival orientation seminar shortly after their arrival in Hong Kong but the dire consequences of over borrowing is just one of the topics on the agenda. 

Excessive borrowing has often been cited as the reason for many of the suicides or criminal entanglements of migrant workers, including thefts and money laundering.

 

 

15 people arrested in anti-illegal work operations

 

Some of those arrested are led away for questioning

Four consecutive days of anti-illegal work operations by the Immigration Department and the Hong Kong Police have resulted in 15 people being arrested.

According to a statement from Immigration, the 15 comprised 12 suspected illegal workers, two employers and one abettor. They were arrested during raids on 81 target locations including restaurants and other commercial establishments between June 9 and June 12.

The suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57.

PINDUTIN DITO

Three of them, two men and one woman, held recognizance forms that allow them to stay pending the outcome of their application for non-refoulement or deportation but prohibits them from taking up any kind of work. 

Two others, a man and a woman, had forged Hong Kong identity cards in their possession.

One man aged 30 and a woman aged 63, were suspected of employing the workers while another woman aged 32, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting a person to breach the condition of stay.

Immigration warns that anyone who contravenes a condition of stay in Hong Kong, like tourists and foreign domestic workers found to have taken illegal work, faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are likewise liable to prosecution and penalties.

Basahin ang detalye!

Overstayers and asylum seekers or those on recognizance face a higher maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and $50,000 fine.

Those found in possession of forged HKID cards face a more severe penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

Employers could be held most culpable for illegal work, with a prescribed maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expect rain on Independence Day parade, says Observatory

 

Those attending the Philippine Independence Day parade and show tomorrow (Sunday) on Chater road in Central will need to bring umbrellas as rains are expected to be brought by tropical cyclone Wutip as it nears west of Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Observatory expects to keep Signal No. 1 for most of Saturday as Wutip is not expected to go nearer than 500 kilometers and is weakening from friction with the mountains of southern Guangdong.

PINDUTIN DITO

But the Observatory said it may raise Signal No. 3 by Sunday, depending on Wutip’s movements.

What is more certain is that clouds that have been accumulated by the storm are expected to dump rains on most of southern Guangdong, with gusty rainshowers expected by Sunday over the Pearl River area, which includes Hong Kong. 

Basahin ang detalye!

"The weather will remain unsettled in the following couple of days," the Observatory added.

President's call for unity highlight Filcom’s Independence Day ‘almusal’

 

CG Israel (middle, with glasses) and Consulate officers pose for photos with Filcom leaders

The traditional ‘almusal’ of members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong to mark Philippine Independence Day on Thursday, June 12, was, as before, highlighted by the reading of messages from the country’s top officials.

In his message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr said independence day must be marked not just by honoring the heroic deeds of the past, but by continuing the work of nation-building.

PINDUTIN DITO

“For the forces that have once enslaved us – ignorance, inequality, injustice, do not vanish,” he said.

“Our task now is to free ourselves not from empires but from erosion within, to liberate our people from hatred, divisiveness and apathy that threatens to undo the union that our forefathers bled, fought and died for.”

President Marcos calls for end to divisiveness on Independence Day

In her own message, Vice President Sara Duterte whose impeachment for alleged graft and threats on the life of the president is at the centre of a political struggle between the two houses of Congress, called for Filipinos to speak out against poverty and corruption.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Kabilang sa hamon ng ating kalayaan ang pagmamalabis at katiwalian sa gobyerno, laganap na droga, problema sa edukasyon, kahirapan at gutom,” she said. (Among the challenges to our freedom is abuse of power and corruption in government, widespread drug abuse, educational challenges, poverty and hunger).

“Hindi tayo lumaya para masadlak lang sa pagdurusa ang ating bansa. (We didn’t win our freedom, only to leave our country mired in helplessness).

VP Duterte hits out at corruption, poverty and drug use in her message

Among the other government officials who either recorded their own messages or had their top representative at the Consulate read it out for them were outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator PY Caunan and Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Roque.

First Lady, Louise Araneta-Marcos, was a surprise addition to the list of official well-wishers featured in the traditional breakfast that kicks off Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Hong Kong.

The all-Filipino gathering hosted by the Consulate was held for the first time this year at the OFW Global Centre on the 18^th floor of United Centre Building in Admiralty.

Deep ties with HK recalled at Philippine Independence Day celebration

 

Consul General Romulo Israel and HK Financial Secretary Paul Chan
toast to an even better ties between the Philippines and Hong Kong

Officials have hailed the deepening relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong at a reception held last night at Island Shangri-la to celebrate the 127^th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Newly installed Philippine Consul General Romulo M. Israel led consulate officers and staff in welcoming about 200 guests from the Filipino community, the diplomatic corps, business associates and Hong Kong government officials headed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan.

Congen Israel, who assumed his post only last month, cited a number of historical events that tied the Philippines to Hong Kong, including how the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, used to live and hold clinic in Central and how the first Philippine flag was sewn in Wanchai.

Basahin ang detalye!

More recent events showed those ties have deepened, with the presence of more than 230,000 Filipino migrants in Hong Kong, and the record arrival in the city of nearly 1.2 million tourists from the Philippines, which according to Israel, broke pre-pandemic records.

On top of this, Hong Kong has remained as the Philippines’ largest trading partner, with the value of the goods that passed on between the two territories growing to $1.8 billion.

PH and HK officials pose for photos at the Philippine Independence Day Reception

Chan elaborated on the statistics provided by Chan, saying that tourist arrivals from the Philippines last year was 55% more than in 2023. In the first five months of the current year, over 550,000 Filipinos have visited Hong Kong, representing a 27 percent increase, year-on-year.

He said trade ties between the two administrations could grow even more, given the current uncertainties in policies by the governments in the United States and elsewhere.

“In an era marked by rising protectionism and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, globalisation is facing backlashes. Countries are seeking to diversify their export markets and development drivers. In this context, enhancing intra-regional trade and collaboration will be key to achieving sustainable growth,” he said.

He added that under the “one country, two systems” policy, Hong Kong is regarded as a “super connector and super value-adder” between mainland China and the rest of the world, and the Philippines as one of fastest growing economies in ASEAN could benefit from this.

Chan also said Hong Kong has emerged as a safe harbor for international capital, and offers an ideal platform for Philippine businesses to raise funds for further development through listing on the city’s stock exchange, connecting with angel investors, and collaborating with other enterprises

“In short, the potential for deeper co-operation between our two economies is vast and far-reaching,” said Chan.

The speeches were sealed with a toast by officials from both governments.

Also among the guests were Chinese Deputy Commissioner at the Ministry of Foreign Affairsj Pan Yundong and Hong Kong Secretary for Labour Chris Chan.

The SUN editor Daisy CL Mandap and publisher Leo A Deocadiz
receive the 'Made It In China" award from Congen Israel  

The second part of the program featured entertainment numbers from various Filipino artists and the awarding of plaques and certificates to Filipinos in Hong Kong who “Made it in China,” including The SUN editor, lawyer and migrants rights advocate Daisy CL Mandap.

Also receiving their awards from Congen Israel were TV news anchor Melissa Gecolea, lawyer Jaerey Velasco, radio host Michael Vincent Benares, and the Divas cricket team.

All of the awardees also received copies of a book detailing the achievements of the various honorees from across China, Hong Kong and Macau, and each with a personal dedication from Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime Florcruz.

 

 

Pinay DH jailed 14 months for theft

 

Dragon Court (Google Maps photo)

Another Filipina domestic helper has been jailed for theft, getting a 14-month sentence for stealing cash and 11 pieces of jewelry from her employer.

Mary Jane Batog, 48 years old, pleaded guilty at Eastern Court on Thursday (June 12) to committing the theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance, in her employer’s home in Dragon Court on Dragon Terrace St., North Point, between March 1 last year to May 12 this year.

Basahin ang detalye!

The stolen items were a pair of Dragon-Phoenix bracelet, three gold necklaces, four gold bracelets, two gold rings and cash of $5,000. The total value of the jewelry was not disclosed.

David Cheung Chi-wai, acting Principal Magistrate, cited Batog’s breach of her employer’s trust over 14 months that she was stealing from her, as basis for the sentence which he cut by a third because of her guilty plea.

Cyclone Wutip watched; Signal 1 remains

 

Path of Tropical Cyclone Wutip (HK Observatory photo)

Hong Kong is expected to have occasional winds and rain brought by Tropical Cyclone Wutip, but weather forecasters are holding off on upgrading the Standby Signal No. 1 they raised last night, until Saturday at the earliest.

Wutip has inched towards Hainan island, and is expected to cross over to the mainland, drawing an arc over the next two days that is expected to be nearest, at within 300 kilometers north of Hong Kong, by early Sunday.

“Squally showers associated with Wutip are affecting the coast of Guangdong. Under the combined effect of its broad circulation and the ridge of high pressure over southeastern China, local winds are occasionally strong offshore and on high ground,” the Hong Kong Observatory said.

Basahin ang detalye!

“Wutip will move across Hainan Island tomorrow…. With Wutip moving inland and under the influence of an active southerly airstream and upper-air disturbances over the coast of Guangdong, there will still be occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms early to midweek next week,” the Observatory added.

As this developed, the Observatory issued several precautions, among them:

1.       Drains should be cleared of obstructions, and windows and doors should be checked.

2.       People in areas of exposed to high winds or in low-lying areas should take precautions against strong winds and flooding.

3.       People planning to visit Guangdong, Macau, outlying islands or remote parts of Hong Kong should note that changes in weather may affect their trips.

4.       Listen to radio, watch TV or browse the Hong Kong Observatory's website and mobile app for the latest information on the tropical cyclone.

‘Bossing,’ ‘Idol,’ take part in PLDT’s HK Fest 2025

 

Free movies and a star-studded show on Chater Road are part of the 4-day festival

Popular noontime show host Vic Sotto, along with Senator Raffy “Idol” Tulfo will be among the special guests at Hong Kong Festival 2025, a four-day celebration of the 127^th Philippine Independence Day co-organized by the Philippine Consulate General, PLDT Global, MQuest Ventures and Philippine Airlines in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General.

The four-day lineup of cultural, cinematic and community activities kicked off this morning with the traditional “almusal” hosted by the Philippine Consulate, followed by a diplomatic reception at Island Shangri-la in the evening.

The events will culminate on Sunday, June 15, with a daylong show on Chater Road in Central where Sotto and his fellow “Eat Bulaga” hosts Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Alan K are slated to perform.

Basahin ang detalye!

Also among the guest performers are actors Sid Lucero, Sue Ramirez, Enchong Dee, Richard Poon, Dylan Menor and Cedric Juan.

Senator Raffy “Idol” Tulfo, who is behind such popular public service programs “Raffy Tulfo I Action” and “Wanted sa Radyo,” will also make an appearance on Chater Road. His team is also available to entertain queries, complaints and/or tip-offs from those who have signed up beforehand through Tinbo.

Tomorrow, June 13, two of three outstanding movies will be shown at Emperor Cinemas, courtesy of PLDT Global.

The first is the yet-to-be released “Song of the Fireflies, while the highly acclaimed “Gomburza” will be shown in the afternoon. A meet-and-greet session with featured guests will follow the screenings.

The movie screenings will continue on Saturday with the movie, “The Kingdom” being featured in the cinematic offerings dubbed as Makabayan Film Fest.

Admission to the movie screenings are free, but attendees are encouraged to log in to the “Tindahan ni Bossing” or “tinbo” app and register to secure their tickets.

Gomburza stars Cedric Juan and Enchong Dee will be around to answer questions from public

On Saturday evening, the Philippine Association of Hong Kong will hold its annual Independence Day ball at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, a former PAHK chairman and longtime benefactor, will be handed an award in recognition of his bayanihan projects and his support for overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.

PLDT Global president and CEO Albert Villa-Real said during the launch of the project in Manila on June 4 said that the four-day event was conceived by Pangilinan himself.

“This was an inception of our chairman who wanted to bring back the good times with the OFW,” Villa-Real said.

The country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, will fly in all the guests from Manila. Its executive vice president and chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez, said PAL’s team will also be present throughout the four-day event.

This is the first time that PAL is partnering with the MVP group in promoting an event for OFWs in Hong Kong, and Fernandez said they are “very proud” to be part of the project.

 

Pinay jailed 6 months for stealing $70K from employer

 

File photo from HK Monetary Authority

A Filipina was jailed for six months after she admitted in a hearing at West Kowloon court today that she stole $70,000 from her employer.

Acting Principal Magistrate Cheng Lim-chi handed the sentence down to Angie Mendoza, 36 years old, for theft, contrary to section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

Acording to the information from Sham Shui Po Police, Mendoza stole the money on an unknown date in February 2024 at her empoyer’s house in Trinity Towers on Lai Chi Kok Road in Sham Shui Po.

Basahin ang detalye!

Meanwhile at Eastern Court, one of three Filipinos charged with burglary was returned to jail after Acting Principal Magistrate David Cheung rejected his latest bail offer of $2,000 and set another bail review on June 19.  

Magistrate Cheung told Roderick Prado, 49 years old, that the offense he was accused of is serious and the risk is high of him not returning for future hearings. But he advised Prado that he can appeal to the High Court.

His two co-accused, Ryan Malonzo, 38, and Allevan Arceo, 29, are both remanded in jail to await their next hearing on June 19.

The three are accused of entering the Green Kennedy Town Shop in the basement of Tung Lee Mansion on Water St. in Sai Ying Pun last March 20, and stealing an iPad worth $3,999.

Filipino migrants blast delay in VP Duterte’s impeachment trial

 

President Marcos is accused of complicity in VP Duterte's alleged crimes

Amid scattered rain, a group of about 30 migrant workers led by Bayan Hong Kong & Macau staged a picket outside the Philippine consulate in Admiralty to condemn the Senate’s decision to remit to the House of Representatives its impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The protesters also hit out at President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., accusing him of deliberately delaying the passing of the impeachment complaint at the House, which they said was the real reason the same was not passed on to the Senate early enough.

They accused both the president and the senators who voted, 18-5,  to send back the impeachment complaint to the House of going against the will of the people so they could protect their political interests.

Basahin ang detalye

“Walang tunay na kalayaan kung nananatiling walang pananagutan ang mga kurap at abusadong opisyal ng gobyerno,” said Migante chair Lai Besana, alluding to the 127^th anniversary of Philippine independence tomorrow. (There can be no real independence if corrupt and abusive officials of the government are allowed to remain unaccountable).

“Isyu at interes din ng mamamayan ang pagpapanagot sa nilustay na pera ni Sara Duterte dahil malaking pakinabang ito kung inilaan ang pondo para tugunan ang krisis ng ekonomiya, proteksiyon at serbisyong panlipunan para sa mga migrante ang mamamayang Pilipino,” she added. (Holding Sara Duterte accountable for her unexplained spending of public money should also be or interest and concern to the Filipino people because that money could have been used to respond to the economic crisis, or to protecting and providing service to Filipino migrants).

The House of Representatives adopted the impeachment complaint against VP Duterte on Feb. 5, after 215 members signed it, which was more than the 1/3 or 102 votes needed to pass the measure.

Duterte was impeached on charges of graft, corruption, plotting to assassinate President Marcos, involvement in extrajudicial killings, and incitement to insurrection and public disorder.

In particular, she is charged with betraying the public trust by failing to account for confidential funds totaling Php612.5 million.

Duterte is charged over her alleged failure to account for Php612.5 million in confidential funds

Another speaker, Shiela Tebia of Gabriela Hong Kong, lamented that instead of being put on trial, Duterte is now in Malaysia, vacationing with her family.

“Kaya walang napaparusahan, pinapayagan ng administrasyong Marcos, Jr. ang kurapsyon sa gobyerno. Kung hindi tayo kayang panindigan ng sarili nating gobyerno, tayo mismo ang kikilos para panagutin si Sara sa kanyang mga kasalanan sa taumbayan lalo na sa paglustay sa pondo ng bayan,” said Tebia. (The government of Marcos, Jr allows corruption, that’s why nobody is held accountable. If our own government cannot stand for us, we will act on our own to make Sara account for all her sins to people, especially her plunder of public funds.”

Baneng Mendez, chair of Bayan HK and Macau, said for her part that remanding the impeachment complaint to the House was worse than if the Senate rejected it.

The protesters called for the impeachment trial to begin immediately, and for VP Duterte to be convicted.

They ended their protest by handing over a copy of their petition to Vice Consul Gino Soriano, who represented the Philippine Consulate.

Vice Consul Soriano receives a copy of the group's petition

Meanwhile, House prosecutors rejected the Senate’s order that they certify that the impeachment complaint did not violate the constitution by hearing three impeachment complaints before the one that ultimately went to a vote.

The constitution bars subjecting anyone to multiple impeachment proceedings within the same year.

Rep. Gerville Luistro maintained that the House cannot withdraw the impeachment case because this is not allowed by the Constitution.

Other prosecutors said it was impossible to fulfill the Senate order as they could not speak for the new House members who are due to take their oath on Jun 30

The five senators who voted against the Senate order also said that once the House filed an impeachment complaint with them, their only duty under the constitution was to conduct a trial.

 

Caunan says Ignacio will be charged

 

Administrator Caunan addresses the crowd on Chater Road

Gone but not forgotten.

This about sums up the fate of Arnell Ignacio, the former administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration who was sacked from his post last month by no less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., over an allegedly anomalous Php1.4 billion land deal.

It was ironic that Ignacio was no longer around to see the top-level delegation from the Philippines fly to Hong Kong last weekend to formally inaugurate one of his major projects, the HK$8 million-a-year DMW-OWWA OFW Global Centre, for which he signed the lease last year.

The controversy surrounding his removal must have been uppermost in many people’s minds at the gathering, but it was not brought up as the officials, led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and his wife, Rep. Yedda, as well as Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac, did not take questions after their respective speeches.

Basahin ang detalye!

But on the sidelines, new OWWA administrator and lawyer PY Caunan did not shirk when asked for an update on the widely-talked about case.

“He will be charged,” Caunan said categorically, but did not give any time frame.

She also admitted knowing about the campaign to get Ignacio reinstated by Global Alliance, an OFW group tapped by OWWA Hong Kong to be its partner in events management, but said she understood how they felt, having developed a close bond with her predecessor.

“But it they were hurt, I was hurt even more,” said Caunan, who said Ignacio was her close friend, having worked closely with him in her former post as undersecretary at the Department of Migrant Workers.

Asked how Ignacio managed to get away with the irregular purchase of the land that was supposed to be the site of halfway-houses for OFWs without anyone catching up on it early enough, Caunan said, “He signed the cheque.”

As OWWA administrator, Ignacio was said to be the authorized signatory of cheques issued in the name of the agency. However, he should have done so only after obtaining permission from the OWWA Board of Trustees headed by Secretary Cacdac.

Ignacio signed the lease for the OFW Global Centre in HK, the first of its kind in the world

It is the government’s case that Ignacio not only bypassed the Board in buying the land, he also engaged in several questionable deals related to the purchase.

One was signing a side contract that allowed the seller to be refunded the Php36 million that he paid as tax for the transaction, another was allowing the seller to continue collecting rent from two commercial establishments on the site, months after the government had acquired ownership.

In several interviews, Cacdac also disclosed that a building housing 53 condominium units was razed at Ignacio’s bidding, again without notice to, or consent by, the Board.

In a meeting with the media after his sacking, Ignacio denied any wrongdoing, and insisted he had reported the purchase of the land to the Board. He also said he only had the OFWs’ best interest in mind when he decided to buy the land.

Ignacio was appointed OWWA administrator by President Marcos in September 2022. He previously served as deputy administrator during the term of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte but resigned after just over a year for reasons he did not disclose.