By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will ask the Office of the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision dismissing graft, malversation, and plunder complaints arising from the controversial P1.4-billion property acquisition by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), insisting that crucial evidence pointing to possible irregularities was overlooked.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Friday the department received the Ombudsman’s June 19, 2026 resolution on July 7 and is preparing to file a motion for reconsideration.
While the Ombudsman dismissed the complaints for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation of public funds, and plunder, it recommended filing a criminal charge for usurpation of official functions against former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio.
The anti-graft body found probable cause to charge Ignacio for allegedly approving and signing the contract to sell, deed of absolute sale, addendum, and disbursement of government funds without authorization from the OWWA Board of Trustees.
Cacdac, however, maintained that the Ombudsman’s resolution failed to fully address several material facts presented by the DMW.
“We believe there are important details and documentary evidence that were not sufficiently considered in the resolution,” he said. “That is why we will file a motion for reconsideration.”
Among the issues the DMW plans to raise is the timing of the government’s payment for the property.
According to Cacdac, two government checks totaling P1.4 billion were issued to the seller on Aug. 30, 2024, nearly two weeks before the Deed of Absolute Sale was signed on Sept. 12, 2024.
He added that records also show the seller acknowledged receipt of the payment on Sept. 11, a day before the deed of sale was formally executed.
“The payment had already been released before the deed of sale was signed, and there was already an acknowledgment receipt before the transaction was finalized,” Cacdac said, arguing that the sequence of events gave the seller undue advantage.
The DMW also questioned the inclusion of 51 condominium units in the property’s purchase price.
Cacdac said the government paid approximately P97 million for the condominium units, only for OWWA officials to later discover that the structures had already been demolished when they inspected the site.
Despite their absence, the condominium titles were reportedly transferred to the Republic of the Philippines through OWWA about a month after the transaction.
“The government paid for condominium units that no longer existed. That represents financial damage to the government,” Cacdac said.
He warned that the issue could eventually be flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA), particularly because the government now holds titles to condominium units that are no longer physically standing.
The property had been acquired for the planned construction of an OFW halfway house, but the DMW said questions surrounding the demolished condominium units and the release of government funds deserve a more thorough legal review.
Despite seeking a reversal of the Ombudsman’s ruling, Cacdac said the DMW remains committed to respecting the final outcome of the case.
“We will comply with whatever final decision the Office of the Ombudsman reaches,” he said. “But we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that all relevant facts are fully examined before the case is finally resolved.”
ia/xf
