PLUNDER and graft charges have been filed against former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) administrator Arnell Ignacio and eight others over the alleged anomalous P1.4-billion land acquisition deal.
The plunder, graft and malversation of public funds complaints were filed against Ignacio, his two former deputies at Owwa, and six individuals who belong to the seller group, by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The deal was signed in September 2024 that was supposedly for the establishment of a half-way house or a dormitory-type accommodation for overseas Filipino workers to be located near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac earlier said that the deal was not approved by the Owwa Board of Trustees, noting that the decision to purchase the property and alter key provisions in the deed of absolute sale was never disclosed to the board, which was among the critical steps of the acquisition process.
He said in the initial deed of absolute sale, the Owwa is held accountable for the tax, but a later version redirected this obligation to involve a P36 million payment.
Cacdac said during the time of purchase, the land is occupied by a tenant with a leasing agreement where the Owwa assumed the role of “landlord” without formal approval from the board.
He said Ignacio authorized the former owner of the land to collect the rent.
Ignacio earlier maintained the regularity of the land acquisition deal, saying it went through the lawful process and was scrutinized by the Owwa technical working group, which includes Cacdac. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)