Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Arnell Ignacio at the ‘Alagang OWWA: Seafarers Hub’ located along Mabini Street, Barangay 670, Ermita, Manila, during its launching on July 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

OWWA- SEAFARERS HUB

Zen Hernandez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174782254640220240711-owwa-seafarers-hub-JC2-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Arnell Ignacio at the ‘Alagang OWWA: Seafarers Hub’ located along Mabini Street, Barangay 670, Ermita, Manila, during its launching on July 11, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arnell Ignacio at the ‘Alagang OWWA: Seafarers Hub’ located along Mabini Street, Barangay 670, Ermita, Manila, during its launching on July 11, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span> MANILA — Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Wednesday said he was unsatisfied with the explanation given by sacked Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) head Arnell Ignacio regarding the unauthorized land deal he made last year.</div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/20/dmw-chief-probes-arnell-ignacio-others-over-p1-4-billion-land-deal-1617">DMW chief probes Arnell Ignacio, others over P1.4-billion land deal</a></div><p>“The reasons I heard were not enough, were not justifiable reasons and that is why I made the report to the President,” Cacdac said.</p><p>Ignacio along with Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair have been sacked over the September 2024 deal.</p><p>Ignacio was replaced by DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/21/another-owwa-official-sacked-as-gov-t-probes-p1-4-b-land-deal-1543">Another OWWA official sacked as gov&#x27;t probes P1.4-B land deal</a></div><p>The order for the shake up came directly from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself, Cacdac said.</p><p>“Of course, the President has absolute control of the executive branch including the appointments of officials such as the administrator of OWWA… Galing din ako sa OWWA kaya’t kailangan na manumbalik yung tiwala at yung good governance na tinatawag,&quot; Cacdac explained.</p><p>Ignacio may face charges after making a land acquisition deal worth P1.4 billion, without going through the OWWA Board of Trustees. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/17/dmw-probing-p1-4-b-land-deal-not-authorized-by-owwa-board-official-1134">DMW probing P1.4-B land deal not authorized by OWWA board — official</a></div><p>“We conducted our own investigation and we called the board, OWWA Board of Trustees. We met four times after that…I clarified for myself that there are even 6 items in all that failed to go through the OWWA board,” Cacdac bared. </p><p>Ignacio was reportedly planning to construct a halfway house for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), but even Cacdac does not approve of it.</p><p>“Gusto nilang magtayo ng halfway house brought on by the pandemic experience where 1.5 million OFWs were safely transported and quarantined by the OWWA during my time. But I said you know, if you asked the board at that point, then we would have said… let the private sector accommodate,&quot; Cacdac said.</p><p>&quot;So it’s not feasible for OWWA to setup a halfway house to begin with. So it raised so many significant red flags,” Cacdac continued.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/5/20/owwa-fund-untapped-in-p1-4-b-unauthorized-land-deal-palace-1035">OWWA fund untapped in P1.4-B unauthorized land deal: Palace</a></div><p>Only OWWA’s budget allocation was used for the transaction, while the OWWA trust fund from OFW contributions remained intact. </p><p>Cacdac said the investigation must be concluded as soon as possible.</p><p>&quot;Let me just say that when it comes to Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, there are many grounds or kinds of cases you could file under that law,” Cacdac said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AmEA-swvLag?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“The reasons I heard were not enough, were not justifiable reasons and that is why I made the report to the President,” Cacdac said.</p>

“The reasons I heard were not enough, were not justifiable reasons and that is why I made the report to the President,” Cacdac said.

​Ex-OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio failed to justify P1.4-B land deal: Cacdac

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​Ex-OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio failed to justify P1.4-B land deal: Cacdac

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 21, 2025 06:30 PM PHT

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Ex-OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio failed to justify P1.4-B land deal: Cacdac

Ex-OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio failed to justify P1.4-B land deal: Cacdac