Palace: OWWA Execs’ dismissal a warning to corrupt officials

The firing of two top officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is a warning to all government workers to act with integrity and professionalism, Malacañang said.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified that OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio and Deputy Administrator Emma Sinclair were dismissed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., not resigned.

The two were removed over their alleged involvement in a questionable P1.4 billion land deal. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said a full investigation is underway.

“Ito lamang po ay isang senyales. Maaari nating sabihin na ito ay panawagan ng Pangulo sa lahat ng mga nagtatrabaho sa ilalim niya na gampanan ninyo ang inyong trabaho,” Castro said in a Palace briefing.

“Tanggalin ang panloloko o lokohan sa inyong pagtatrabaho. Dahil hindi po mangingimi ang Pangulong tanggalin kayo sa pwesto. You will all be fired, kapag hindi ninyo tinupad ang inyong mga obligasyon sa bayan.”

Last week, Marcos Jr. appointed DMW Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan as the new OWWA administrator, replacing Ignacio.IMT