Malacañang announced yesterday that former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Director Emma Sinclair was also sacked for her role in an unauthorized P1.4-billion land deal.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said Sinclair, like former OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio, was fired after President Marcos lost trust and confidence in her.
“Both of them were fired. They were not asked to resign. This is just a warning. We can say that this is the President’s call to all those working under him to do your job, to stop irregularities or doing irregularities in your work,” Castro told Palace reporters.
“This is a clear signal from the President to all government officials: perform your duties or be removed. The President will not hesitate to fire those who fail to fulfill their obligations to the public,” she added.
The two erstwhile highest OWWA officials were terminated due to anomalies previously disclosed by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac.
Castro emphasized that the Palace remains firm in its anti-corruption stance across all government agencies.
The land deal is under scrutiny for potential administrative and legal violations, particularly concerning transparency and the source of funds used.
Malacañang previously said initial findings indicate the OWWA trust fund was not affected.
On May 16, the President appointed Migrant Workers Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan as the new OWWA administrator, replacing Ignacio.
The following day, Caunan announced that Cacdac’s office is investigating the land purchase deal entered into by the OWWA under Ignacio’s watch.
For his part, Cacdac said no one will be spared from the ongoing investigation into the OWWA’s allegedly anomalous billion-peso land deal, calling it a matter of accountability and public trust.
In particular, alleged procedural lapses and a lack of proper authorization in acquiring land near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City for a dormitory-type accommodation for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are under scrutiny.
