Ex-OWWA chief Ignacio faces charges over P1.4 billion land deal

National

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of a criminal complaint for usurpation of official functions against former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Arnaldo "Arnell" Ignacio.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the charges stemmed from a P1.4-billion property acquisition that happened when Ignacio was the chief of OWWA, a report by Philstar said.

The acquisition allegedly proceeded without the approval of the agency's Board of Trustees.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the department received the Ombudsman's June 19 resolution on July 7.

The DMW said the Ombudsman found that Ignacio signed the contract to sell, deed of absolute sale, and an addendum, and authorized the release of public funds without the required approval from the OWWA Board of Trustees.

According to the resolution, Ignacio acted as though he had the board's authority, an act that the Ombudsman said went beyond an administrative lapse and constituted a criminal offense under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

Ignacio was removed from his post as OWWA administrator in 2025 over a loss of trust and confidence in connection with the controversial land transaction.

While the Ombudsman ordered the filing of the usurpation case, it dismissed separate complaints for plunder, malversation of public funds, and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Ignacio, several former OWWA officials, and the private sellers involved.

Cacdac said the DMW will seek reconsideration of the ruling, arguing that key pieces of evidence submitted by the department indicate that the seller received undue advantage and that the government suffered damage.

To support its claim, Cacdac said the transaction was completed without the required oversight, transparency, and approval of the OWWA Board of Trustees.

Two Land Bank checks worth around P1.4 billion were released to the seller nearly two weeks before the deed of absolute sale was signed. Records also showed that the seller acknowledged receiving full payment a day before the execution of the deed.

Cacdac also questioned the inclusion of 51 condominium units, valued at about P97 million, in the purchase price.

Although the government holds titles to the units, he said an inspection found that the buildings had already been demolished and no longer existed.

According to Cacdac, this resulted in an estimated P198 million in overpricing, with public funds allegedly spent on non-existent properties that were supposed to benefit overseas Filipino workers.(Mary Elaine Virtucio, UP Cebu COMM Intern)