THE Office of the Ombudsman has formally indicted former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnaldo “Arnell” Ignacio for the crime of Usurpation of Official Functions in relation to the agency’s ₱1.4-billion property acquisition.
The resolution marks a significant development in the investigation into the transaction, which raised questions about compliance with rules and proper governance within the agency tasked with safeguarding the interests of overseas Filipino workers.
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac confirmed that the office received the Ombudsman’s resolution dated June 19, 2026, last July 7. According to the findings, Ignacio signed key documents including the contract to sell, deed of absolute sale, and its addendum, as well as approved the release of public funds for the purchase — all without securing the required authorization from the OWWA Board of Trustees. This action, the Ombudsman ruled, went beyond simple administrative oversight and qualified as a criminal offense.
Under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, Ignacio is charged with performing official duties he was not legally empowered to exercise. The resolution emphasized that he acted “under the pretense of authority from the OWWA Board of Trustees, despite knowing he had no such authority.” The Ombudsman further clarified that the lack of board approval was not a minor technicality but a direct bypass of institutional checks and transparency mechanisms mandated under the OWWA Charter, exceeding the limits of his lawful mandate.
Secretary Cacdac noted that Usurpation of Official Functions carries a penalty ranging from six months to four years of imprisonment. The Office of the Ombudsman has now directed the filing of an information against Ignacio before the appropriate court to formally commence the criminal proceedings. The case underscores the importance of adhering to governance protocols to ensure that public funds are used only through proper channels and in strict compliance with the law.
metrosundaily
