Marilyn Cahatol

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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/174817134135920250122100144_aaad8e90-6adb-475d-bbc1-0219b9c836d0.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arnell Ignacio. <em>ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers is poised to wrap up its investigation on sacked Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Arnell Ignacio, said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Sunday, May 25.</p><p>“We are about to wrap up our investigation and file appropriate cases to the appropriate government agencies,” Cacdac told Teleradyo Serbisyo.</p><p>He said the investigation was easy after Ignacio’s dismissal last week as it gave them access to the necessary papers and have legal interviews with the administration’s staff.</p><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>Cacdac said the sacked administrator violated six to seven OWWA provisions in sealing the P1.4 billion land acquisition deal without the approval of the OWWA’s Board of Trustees.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/23/arnell-ignacio-says-p1-4-b-owwa-land-deal-went-through-proper-process-1947">Arnell Ignacio says P1.4-B OWWA land deal went through proper process</a></div><p>An unapproved halfway house project itself is against the OWWA provisions, Cacdac underscored.</p><p>If the former administrator sought the board’s approval, he said Ignacio could have been advised on the issues that could arise if a government agency builds a facility like a halfway house.</p><p>It was also against the OWWA provisions, Cacdac explained, to transfer a portion of an appropriated budget like the repatriation fund to another purpose, as well as signing a deed of sale without the board’s approval.</p><p>He added that OWWA was not supposed to pay any tax in buying lands, but the seller required the administration to pay the P36 million local transfer tax—or the tax collected upon the transfer of a real property ownership.</p><p>Cacdac added that the land sold to OWWA turned out to be rented to private individuals, which the administration found only after the transaction has completed.</p><p>Even then, the private seller maintained the role of collecting tenants’ rents, said Cacdac.</p><p>“Ang tanong dito, bakit napakalawak ng papel ng private party na iyon? Binigyan ng P36 million, reimbursement ng taxes—so-called, pinagkolekta ng upa,” he said.</p><p>The secretary opted not to disclose the seller’s identity yet.</p><p>When asked if Ignacio could have any accomplices, Cacdac said they received such reports, but he opted not to disclose the details.</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>“Ang Board of Trustee ang pinakamataas na policy-making at checks and balances na body sa OWWA,” the secretary highlighted.</p><p>While the repatriation fund has lessened due to the incident, Cacdac assured that repatriation missions of the Filipinos abroad will not be affected as the DMW’s action funds and OWWA’s OFW trust funds remain intact.</p><p>The secretary said they will make an official announcement soon when charges are officially filed against Ignacio.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d9QYXLpT2yo?si=GC7egDQbLy7bO8YN" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Migrant Workers is poised to wrap up its investigation on sacked Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Arnell Ignacio, said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Sunday, May 25.</p>

The Department of Migrant Workers is poised to wrap up its investigation on sacked Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Arnell Ignacio, said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Sunday, May 25.

DMW set to wrap up probe on Ignacio’s P1.4B land deal: Cacdac

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DMW set to wrap up probe on Ignacio’s P1.4B land deal: Cacdac

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2025 07:42 PM PHT

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Arnell Ignacio

DMW

OWWA

Hans Leo Cacdac

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