Former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio has come forward to defend the controversial P1.4-billion land acquisition project, asserting that the deal was properly vetted and not hastily made.
In a statement released Friday, Ignacio stressed that the land purchase was a long-planned initiative, dating back to 2018, and underwent a thorough process involving the agency’s technical working group and governing board.
“This was not a rushed deal. It was reviewed by the board and the technical team. Everything was in place,” Ignacio said, insisting that the necessary documentation and clearances were secured.
He also pointed out that the valuation of the property was conducted by the Land Bank of the Philippines, and the issuance of a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) signified that the acquisition had government approval.
Despite Ignacio’s defense, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that the land deal is currently under scrutiny. DMW Secretary Hans Cacdac disclosed that Ignacio himself flagged the transaction in October 2024, acknowledging that the matter would eventually fall under his attention.
Ignacio has since been succeeded by Patricia Yvonne Caunan, previously the DMW Undersecretary for Policy and International Cooperation.
