Replacement for Soriano named soon

The scandal-rocked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will soon have a new chief.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said Malacañang is set to name a new OWWA chief to replace incumbent administrator Wilhelm Soriano, who has been indisposed for the past two months.

"We expect that by the end of the month, a new OWWA chief will be appointed and will assume (the post) by November," Sto. Tomas told reporters.

She said she submitted to Malacañang’s search committee the names of six aspirants for the position, now temporarily being held by deputy administrator Delmer Cruz.

Soriano went on sick leave shortly after engaging in a word war with Sto. Tomas who had ordered an investigation into alleged illegal disbursements of OWWA funds.

"The situation between me and Mr. Soriano has become untenable," she admitted.

Sto. Tomas declined to name the six aspirants but labor sources said they include former Reps. Omar Fajardo and Sid Aligada and former labor official Luther Calderon.

Sto. Tomas said there is a need to appoint a new OWWA chief because Soriano can no longer perform his functions due to sickness.

Soriano is reportedly suffering from severe back pains and has been on sick leave since August.

"It’s not fair for the deputy administrator to be saddled with responsibilities (of the OWWA chief) and not get paid for the position," she said.