THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is bent on holding accountable individuals behind the allegedly anomalous P1.4 billion land deal of the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA).
“In due time, appropriate administrative and criminal cases will be filed against responsible OWWA officers, who participated in the anomalous transactions,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in a statement.
Among them, he said, is former OWWA administrator Arnel Ignacio, who was recently fired and replaced by former DMW Undersecretary Patricia Caunan.
“Former OWWA Administrator Ignacio did not resign from his position. He was removed from office on the grounds of loss of trust and confidence following serious procedural and substantive lapses related to an anomalous P1.4 billion land acquisition under questionable circumstances and without the required authority from the OWWA Board of Trustees,” said Cacdac.
He stressed that the controversial land deal to construct a “Halfway House” to supposedly accommodate a huge number of repatriated OFWs would be questioned over its “impracticality and cost inefficiency.”
Cacdac said there was also no OWWA approval on the conversion of emergency repatriation funds to capital outlay funds in the amount of P2.6 billion.
The signing of the Deed of Absolute Sale of P1.4 billion real property and the Deed of Donation covering a certain portion of real property by the seller, the DMW chief said, also had no OWWA Board authority as required in the OWWA Charter.
He also pointed out that the signing of an addendum to the same Deed of Absolute Sale of real property on reimbursement of paid taxes to the seller also did not get OWWA Board clearance.
The assumption of undisclosed existing lease contracts and the collection by a third party or non-OWWA employee of lease rentals from tenants on the subject property was also not approved by the OWWA Board, according to Cacdac.
Lastly, he said the demolition of a building covered by 52 Condominium Certificates of Title under the Deed of Absolute Sale, already transferred under the name of the Republic of the Philippines, should have been approved by the OWWA Board.
Cacdac issued the statement after Ignacio denied irregularities in the P1.4-billion land deal the agency entered into.
In a related development, Caunan yesterday vowed that OWWA will have full transparency and integrity under her watch.
Speaking during her first flag ceremony as OWWA chief, Caunan said she is committed to the reforms sought within the agency.
“We, at OWWA, are committed to ensuring that our programs are not just efficient, but meaningful, rooted in integrity, and driven by genuine public service,” said Caunan.
Cacdac was present during the flag ceremony held at the OWWA central office in Pasay City.
In his message, Cacdac said, “We want to emphasize the importance of integrity and transparency in public service, particularly in safeguarding public funds, all for the benefit and service of OFWs and their families.”
