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Advocates Philippines
'Nobody's Safe': DMW's Cacdac Promises Deep Probe Into P1.4-B OWWA Land Deal
Photo credit: DMW
No one’s getting off the hook—not even close.
That’s the firm message from Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac as he spoke out on Tuesday about the P1.4-billion land deal under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Cacdac stressed that the ongoing investigation into the controversial land acquisition is far from over—and no one is exempt.
“Nobody is exempted or safe from this investigation,” Cacdac said bluntly during an interview at the Philippine-Czech Republic Friendship Week event held at the DMW head office in Mandaluyong City. “We will go as deep as we can, and as broad and wide as we can in terms of who are culpable in this particular transaction.”
At the center of the issue is a prime piece of land near Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City, bought for a halfway house project meant for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The deal was initiated during the term of former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, and Cacdac says there are serious concerns about how it was done.
Among the red flags? Alleged procedural lapses and missing approvals—most notably from the OWWA Board of Trustees. Cacdac didn’t mince words when he said multiple violations may have occurred.
“We’re still going through the documents, talking to the people involved, and trying to understand how something of this scale happened without even a formal notice,” he said. “Whether formal or informal—wala man lang abiso.”
While the DMW has already submitted a preliminary report to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Cacdac made it clear that the investigation is ongoing. And now that a new OWWA administrator is in place, they have more room to dig even deeper.
With Patricia Yvonne Caunan recently sworn in as the new OWWA chief, Cacdac said they’re moving forward with a fresh lens. In fact, he’s already asked her to launch an internal audit and to double down on protecting both the OWWA Trust Fund—which comes from OFW contributions—and any money coming from the national budget.
Malacañang, for its part, confirmed earlier this week that based on initial findings, the OWWA Trust Fund remains untouched. So far, there’s no indication that it was used in the property purchase.
Still, for Cacdac, the issue goes beyond money.
“It’s about accountability and public trust,” he said. “We owe it to our OFWs to make sure every cent is used properly—and that those who broke the rules are held accountable.”
The investigation continues.
That’s the firm message from Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac as he spoke out on Tuesday about the P1.4-billion land deal under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Cacdac stressed that the ongoing investigation into the controversial land acquisition is far from over—and no one is exempt.
“Nobody is exempted or safe from this investigation,” Cacdac said bluntly during an interview at the Philippine-Czech Republic Friendship Week event held at the DMW head office in Mandaluyong City. “We will go as deep as we can, and as broad and wide as we can in terms of who are culpable in this particular transaction.”
At the center of the issue is a prime piece of land near Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Parañaque City, bought for a halfway house project meant for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The deal was initiated during the term of former OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio, and Cacdac says there are serious concerns about how it was done.
Among the red flags? Alleged procedural lapses and missing approvals—most notably from the OWWA Board of Trustees. Cacdac didn’t mince words when he said multiple violations may have occurred.
“We’re still going through the documents, talking to the people involved, and trying to understand how something of this scale happened without even a formal notice,” he said. “Whether formal or informal—wala man lang abiso.”
While the DMW has already submitted a preliminary report to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Cacdac made it clear that the investigation is ongoing. And now that a new OWWA administrator is in place, they have more room to dig even deeper.
With Patricia Yvonne Caunan recently sworn in as the new OWWA chief, Cacdac said they’re moving forward with a fresh lens. In fact, he’s already asked her to launch an internal audit and to double down on protecting both the OWWA Trust Fund—which comes from OFW contributions—and any money coming from the national budget.
Malacañang, for its part, confirmed earlier this week that based on initial findings, the OWWA Trust Fund remains untouched. So far, there’s no indication that it was used in the property purchase.
Still, for Cacdac, the issue goes beyond money.
“It’s about accountability and public trust,” he said. “We owe it to our OFWs to make sure every cent is used properly—and that those who broke the rules are held accountable.”
The investigation continues.
May 21, 2025
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