DMW appeals ex-OWWA chief Ignacio's dismissed graft, malversation raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Friday appealed the dismissed graft and malversation of public funds complaint against former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnaldo A. “Arnell” Ignacio.

DMW chief Hans Cacdac went to the Office of the Ombudsman to file a motion for reconsideration on the anti-graft body’s June 19 resolution dismissing the cases against Ignacio, former OWWA officials and the private sellers who were involved in alleged anomalies in a ₱1.4 billion worth of property acquisition.

READ: Let sacking of Ignacio be a warning, says Palace

Article continues after this advertisement

“The Motion for Reconsideration argues that the Office of the Ombudsman erred in dismissing the complaint against the public and private respondents,” the DMW said in its media briefer.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

“It maintains that the Ombudsman misappreciated the evidence and failed to consider the totality of circumstances establishing probable cause,” it also said.

The motion said the respondents violated the Section 3(e) and 3(g) of the Republic Act 3019 (Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act). Section 3(e) prohibits “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence, while Section 3(g) declares as unlawful “entering, on behalf of the Government, into any contract or transaction manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the same, whether or not the public officer profited or will profit thereby.”

DMW emphasized that the Landbank appraised the purchased property at ₱1.218 billion, excluding a 1,000-square meter parcel since its value was already incorporated in the valuation of condo units.

However, the DMW said the committee on land acquisition later included the excluded parcel, increasing the purchase price to ₱1.416 billion, prompting OWWA to allegedly pay an additional ₱198 million in what the agency described as double valuation.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Commission on Audit identified this “unresolved discrepancy … supporting the claim that the overvaluation was never properly reconciled,” according to the agency.

The DMW also pointed out the alleged non-existence of the 51 condominium units worth ₱97 million that were included in the sale and purchase price of ₱1.4 billion.

Article continues after this advertisement

Titles covering the condominium units were issued in the name of the Republic of the Philippines through OWWA, but when its current administration conducted an ocular inspection of the property, the condominium structures were no longer found at the site.

Instead, photographs showed a cleared area and a backhoe, indicating that demolition had apparently taken place.

“These acts allegedly constitute evident bad faith, manifest partiality, or gross inexcusable negligence that caused undue injury to the government,” the DMW said.

DMW’s motion also argued that  respondents are liable for malversation for allowing “public funds to be unlawfully disbursed.”

While it dismissed the other criminal cases, the Office of the Ombudsman has indicted Ignacio for usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the said property acquisition.

According to the July 7 Ombudsman resolution cited by DMW, Ignacio acted under the pretense of authority from the OWWA Board of Trustees, despite having no such authority which is no longer a “mere administrative non-compliance” but already “constitutes the crime of usurpation of official functions.”

Usurpation of official functions is a criminal offense that may carry a penalty of six months to four years of imprisonment.

Ignacio was sacked by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in 2025 due to this land acquisition deal.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

He was first appointed as OWWA chief in 2022, during the term of then – President Rodrigo Duterte. /gsg