OWWA deputy administrator sacked over 'anomalous' land deal

Deputy Administrator for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Fund Management, Emma Sinclair, has been dismissed from her post over an alleged anomalous land deal, Malacañang said Wednesday.

In a statement, Palace spokesperson Atty. Claire Castro said both Sinclair and former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio were removed from their positions.

“In addition to [former OWWA Administrator Ignacio], another official is involved, Deputy Director Emma Sinclair. Both of them were dismissed; they were not asked to resign,” Castro said.

Castro emphasized that the dismissals serve as a warning from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to all public officials to fulfill their duties with integrity and to refrain from any irregularities. Failure to do so will result in dismissal.

The P1.4-billion "anomalous" land deal in question, approved under Ignacio’s leadership, was intended for a “halfway house” accommodation for OFWs near NAIA Terminal 1

On 31 March, OWWA employees filed a complaint accusing Ignacio and Sinclair of manipulating government processes to reduce tax obligations related to the transaction.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) earlier said that the deal remains under investigation.

“We are still in the process of digging deeper and finding out more details… looking through documents, talking to personnel inside — why this happened, whether there is abuse... whether formal or informal, involved in this transaction,” DMW chief Hans Cacdac said.

Cacdac has yet to issue a statement regarding Sinclair’s dismissal.

Ignacio, meanwhile, has said he will address the issue “at the right time.”