OWWA execs found liable for unauthorized investments

Administrator Wilhelm Soriano of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and David Corpin, the agency’s former head, were found liable yesterday for the unauthorized investment of P1.2 million in OWWA funds in a Ramos administration housing project.

Eli Gardener, Soriano’s predecessor, was cleared of any involvement in the irregularity.

In its report to the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), the labor and employment department investigating committee said Soriano and Corpin invested money in the Smokey Mountain low-cost housing project without authority from the OWWA board of trustees.

"In sum, in the absence of clear rules and regulations defining the administrator’s authority on the investment of OWWA funds, the administrator is, by law, required to seek the board of trustees’ approval before he can invest or undertake any investment decision.

"In the absence of this approval ...the administrators –from Corpin to Soriano –have clearly exceeded their authority when they made the (Smokey Mountain) investments," read part of the report.

But the committee said: "...the original placements are all accounted for, subject to the clarification of certain gaps/discrepancies which may be due to the incompleteness of the committee’s records."

Labor and Employment Undersecretary Manuel Imson said the investment was legal but that the procedures of Soriano and Corpin were irregular.

If the PAGC finds prima facie evidence against Soriano and Corpin, graft charges could be filed against them in court, he added.

Chaired by Labor and Employment Undersecretary Arturo Brion, the committee is comprised of Assistant Secretary Benedicto Bitonio Jr., vice chairman; Philippine Overseas Employment Administration Deputy Administrator Angeles Wong-Garcia, labor department Director for Legal Services Ramon Gatchalian, Director Elizabeth Recio, and Joan Lourdes Lavilla, members. – Sandy Araneta