Malacanañg confirmed the dismissal of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair in connection with an alleged anomalous ₱1.4-billion land acquisition deal.
Palace Communications Officer Usec. Claire Castro said that both Sinclair and former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio were removed from their posts due to allegations of potential misuse of public funds involving the controversial land deal.
“Former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio hindi po siya nag-resign, siya po ay tinanggal dahil sa mga anumalyang nabanggit,” Castro said, on Wednesday, May 21.
“Nabanggit na po ito ni Secretary Hans Cacdac at maliban po diyan, mayroon pa pong isa na makakasama ang Deputy Director na si Emma Sinclair. Parehas po silang tinanggal, hindi po sila pinag-resign,” she added.
The deal, reportedly amounting to ₱1.4 billion, involved the purchase of land near Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, to serve as a halfway house for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Castro emphasized that the dismissals signal President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm stance against corruption and negligence in public service.
“Ito lamang po ay isang senyales, maaari nating sabihin na ito ay panawagan ng Pangulo sa lahat ng mga nagtatrabaho sa ilalim niya na gampanan ninyo ang inyong trabaho. Tanggalin ang pangloloko o lokohan sa inyong pagtatrabaho dahil hindi po mangingim ang pangulo na tanggalin kayo sa pwesto,” Castro stressed.
“You will all be fired kapag hindi niyo tinupad ang inyong mga obligasyon sa bayan,” she added.
On the other hand, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan has been appointed and already took an oath as the new OWWA Administrator replacing Ignacio on Friday, May 16.
Caunan, a lawyer with extensive experience in labor and migrant affairs, has vowed to restore integrity and transparency in the agency.
The DMW is currently conducting an investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds.
