DMW vows thorough probe on P1.4 billion OWWA land deal

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is conducting a thorough investigation into the allegedly anomalous P1.4-billion land acquisition deal entered into by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration under former OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed yesterday that an extensive probe is underway to determine liability and potentially file appropriate charges.

“We could further dig deeper and look into the transaction. We just need more time for this,” Cacdac said.

He added that they are
 currently reviewing documents and speaking with OWWA personnel to uncover the circumstances behind the deal.

“There is not even a notice or anything formal or informal about this transaction. That too needs to be further looked into. We are still at that stage. It will take some time to come out with the necessary conclusions,” he said.
Cacdac emphasized that the transaction did not go through the OWWA Board of Trustees, which is a direct violation of the provisions of the OWWA Charter.

“We already know that the OWWA Board was bypassed despite the provisions of the OWWA charter,” he noted.
He also pointed out that the investigation is moving more freely now that Ignacio is no longer in office.

“Now that he is gone, it is more open. We are more free to check and look at the documents and talk to people,” Cacdac said.
The DMW secretary vowed that no one involved in the questionable deal will be spared from accountability.

“Definitely no one is exempt or safe from this investigation. We will go as deep as we can and as broad and wide as we can in terms of who is guilty with this particular investigation.”
Cacdac earlier clarified that Ignacio did not resign from his post but was removed from office “on the count of loss of trust and confidence.”
Newly appointed OWWA administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan, who replaced Ignacio and was sworn in by Secretary Cacdac last Friday, addressed the issue during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

“Any allegation must go through proper investigation. There is due process, as Secretary Hans has said,” said Caunan.

Preliminary information suggests that the land was acquired for the construction of a halfway house for overseas Filipino workers.

However, under Republic Act 10801 or the OWWA Act, real property acquisitions must receive board approval – an apparent oversight in this case.

Clarifying the source of funding, Caunan stressed that the P1.4 billion used did not come from OWWA’s trust fund but from allocations under the General Appropriations Act.

“The trust fund remains untouched. These are not trust fund resources, so there should be no misplaced blame,” she explained.

A reassessment is underway to determine whether the halfway house project remains a necessity or if the funds would be better used for other initiatives, such as scholarships for children of OFWs.

Should the investigation uncover any irregularities, Caunan said the DMW would pursue criminal charges, given the involvement of public funds.

“It’s disheartening that issues like this arise, but we have to treat the matter seriously,” she said.

Moving forward, Caunan committed to internal reforms and tighter processes within OWWA.

“We will undergo the necessary audit and investigation in OWWA,” she said.

As of yesterday afternoon, Ignacio has yet to issue a statement addressing the controversy.