A P1.4-billion land acquisition deal involving the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) may have triggered a divide within the agency, pitting former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio against Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac over procedural lapses, bypassing by the board, and transparency. 

The land deal finalized during Ignacio’s tenure is under review by the DMW following internal complaints and “red flags” raised by Cacdac. 

At the center of the controversy is a 6,499-square-meter property near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, which Ignacio considers a “legacy project” for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 

In a press conference on Friday, Ignacio broke his silence amid the scrutiny, saying he was “shocked” by the allegations and accusations thrown his way, clarifying that the land deal dated back several years. 

“This started back in 2018 when I was still the DA [Deputy Administrator] and our current secretary [DMW Secretary Cacdac] was the administrator. So this was already pushed forward, already proposed,” Ignacio said, noting that the land purchase followed a guidance from the Department of Budget and Management and was reviewed by a technical working group.

“We brought this to the board as a report from OWWA and it was scrutinized by several technical working groups formed by our chairman, Secretary Hans Cacdac, who is my friend,” Ignacio said. 

He emphasized the transaction was fully compliant with Republic Act 10752, or The Right-of-Way Act, and that the price paid matched the land appraisal made by Landbank, the government financial institution. 

He said the deal started in the Senate and had the necessary permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, debunking claims that the property’s proximity to the runway made it unusable. 

“It’s on the record, we were even next to each other, our new admin PY Caunan was there, former [DMW] Undersecretary Anthonette Allones and OIC Undersecretary Hans Cacdac were there,” he added.

He denied profiting from the deal, as claimed in a complaint letter that circulated on social media.

“Let me tell you, to the OFWs I have been serving: I did not betray you, I only did this because of your love and I did not earn anything from this. There’s nothing like that here,” he said.

However, over the past week, DMW Secretary Cacdac painted a different picture, pointing to unresolved issues and a lack of consultation with the OWWA Board of Trustees. 

In an earlier statement, Cacdac said that at least six critical elements of the land transaction were never presented to the OWWA board for deliberation, raising serious concerns about transparency and due process. 

He said the initial information he received in 2024 centered on local transfer taxes. 

The DMW secretary also revealed that it was Ignacio himself who handed him the complaint letter filed by “concerned OWWA employees,” reportedly telling him he might as well read it firsthand since he would find out about it eventually.

Ignacio was replaced by then DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation Patricia Yvonne Caunan, and he expressed dismay over his sudden replacement. 

“I wish I was at least given the chance to talk. I was just surprised one day when I was called and told that I was going to be replaced,” he said.

With the contrasting narratives, it remains a question of whether the P1.4-billion land deal was an initiative with well-meaning intentions or a case of oversight failure. 

At this writing, Cacdac had yet to respond to DAILY TRIBUNE’s request for comment on Ignacio’s statement.