Motivational speaker Rendon Labador has expressed strong support for former OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio, who is currently under public scrutiny over a controversial ₱1.4 billion land acquisition deal.
In a Facebook post, Labador said he refuses to believe that Ignacio could commit wrongdoing, describing him as one of the few government officials with genuine compassion for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“Kawawa ang mga OFW kapag walang malasakit ang mailalagay bilang OWWA chief,” Rendon wrote. He emphasized that Arnell showed real dedication during his tenure, adding, “Sa itsura ni Arnell na ‘yan, hindi ako naniniwala na kaya niya manloko ng ₱1.4B.”
He also lamented the way Ignacio was removed from his post, suggesting that if there was an intent to replace him, it should have been done respectfully and without controversy. However, he maintained that if any wrongdoing is proven, accountability must follow.
“Protektahan natin palagi ang mga bayaning OFW,” he said.
In a separate post, Labador recalled Ignacio’s visit to his restaurant, humorously adding that the former OWWA head became more “motivated” after ordering a lot of food. He urged for a fair and thorough investigation, stressing the importance of standing by OFWs.
Online, opinions on Rendon’s post were divided. Some netizens hailed Ignacio as a diligent and approachable public servant who truly served OFWs, while others emphasized the need for a proper probe regardless of personal sympathies.
Ignacio has already spoken publicly about the issue and denied any involvement in anomalous transactions related to the OWWA land deal.
