Former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio, an erstwhile TV celebrity, did not resign but was removed from his post.

Ignacio was removed due to an allegedly anomalous P1.4-billion land acquisition deal intended for the accommodation facilities of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that did not go through the OWWA Board of Trustees, according to Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

Cacdac confirmed that Patricia Yvonne Caunan replaced Ignacio as the new OWWA chief on Friday. Prior to her appointment, Caunan served as DMW undersecretary for policy and international cooperation.

In a news forum, Caunan said the land acquisition deal under Ignacio involved a proposed dormitory for OFWs near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, which Cacdac said was not needed since there were many hotels nearby for OFWs to be billeted. 

The DMW chief said the matter had been reported to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and a case would be filed with the appropriate authorities.

On Saturday, DAILY TRIBUNE sought a comment from Ignacio who said he would speak “at the right time.”

Caunan said, “Cacdac made a statement already. As a lawyer I would also say this —  there’s an investigation [and we will] allow due process to take its course.”

“As the new administrator of OWWA, we will perform the necessary audit. We will seek the required legal opinion from the Department of Justice,” she added.