Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac on Monday, July 20, announced that he filed with the Office of the Ombudsman a motion for reconsideration concerning the complaint against former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnaldo “Arnell” Ignacio, which the anti-graft body previously dismissed.
In a press conference, Cacdac said the agency maintains that Ignacio had bypassed the Board of Trustees with respect to a land deal that unduly cost the OWWA ₱1.4 billion.
The motion for reconsideration was filed before the Ombudsman on July 17, he announced.
Cacdac argued that Ignacio had acted on manifest impartiality, evident bad faith, and inexcusable negligence, pointing out that the two checks issued, amounting to ₱1.4 billion, were issued 12 days before the deed of sale.
According to records, the receipt of the checks was on August 30, and the sale was made on September 12, Cacdac told reporters.
In bypassing the OWWA Board, Ignacio had committed undue haste and undue advantage, and the sale had caused undue injury to the government, Cacdac explained.
He also revealed that the property had been overpriced. Landbank appraised it at ₱1.2 billion, including the 51 condominium units and the land on which they were constructed.
However, Ignacio had paid an additional ₱198 million.
“Nag-overpricing. Ang land valuation ng Landbank was ₱1.2 billion, including the 51 condominium units and the land on which it stands. That’s around ₱97 million. Pero ang purchase price, ₱1.4 billion, nag-excess ng mga ₱198 million. Bakit? So we want the Ombudsman to review this,” Cacdac said.
Moreover, the migrant workers chief said the 51 condominium units were nowhere to be found when they conducted an ocular inspection of the property. Apparently, they had been demolished.
“The building had been completely demolished. So the OWWA is holding titles to 51 condominium units that no longer exist okay? So, that’s undue advantage. Literally, undue damage,” he explained.
As for the part of the complaint alleging usurpation, Cacdac said that while the Ombudsman only considered one count, he counts at least five.
“Doon sa usurpation, may pinatitingnan din kami do’n, kasi isang count lang ‘yung na-consider ng Ombudsman, ‘yung (pag-)bypass (sa) Board sa sale. But what we were pointing out with the Ombudsman was it’s more than just one count for usurpation,” he said.
“Doon sa mismong project ng Halfway House, doon sa sale of course, doon sa amended deed of sale to exempt the seller from the transaction—which, by the way, is another case of undue advantage—OWWA ang nagbayad sa taxes,m linibre niya sa taxes ang seller… that’s another count na hindi dinaan sa Board… And of course the demolition or the non-existence of the condo units themselves, hindi dinaan sa Board,” he enumerated.
Ignacio was sacked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last year over this same land acquisition deal, according to reports.
