OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio: Socmed manager behind post on my love life

SCREEN GRAB FROM ARNELL IGNACIO’S TWITTER ACCOUNT

MANILA, Philippines — A post on the official Facebook page of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) asking followers if they think former television host and Administrator Arnell Ignacio should pursue a new “love life” was made by a “young and aggressive” social media manager.

This was the defense given by Ignacio himself, who said in a press briefing on Friday that they have already reprimanded the social media manager.

It could be remembered that a post was made on OWWA’s official Facebook page asking overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) if they favor Ignacio “opening his heart to love again.”

“Basta what I promise you, the group taking care of our social media page, they could be reorganized.  Kasi meron kaming nakasama na super aggressive eh, super aggressive kasi nga gusto ko na ‘yong aming social media page eh maka-sabay ba, makasabay sa bilis ninyo [media],” Ignacio told reporters.

(What I can promise you, the group taking care of our social media page, could be reorganized. Because we had a colleague who was super aggressive, super-aggressive, as they want our social media page to be up to date with you, the media.)

“Aba’y pati pala love life ko’y nilagay doon, pati kung ano-ano nilagay.  Oo, pati love life ko nilagay, this young, aggressive social media practitioner was reprimanded already, it was only good intention sana kaya lang nilagay niya sa official page ng OFWs,” he added.

(Even my love life was placed on the social media page. So yes, this young, aggressive social media practitioner was reprimanded already, it was only good intention but he placed it at the official page of OFWs,” he added.

Ignacio, however, appealed to people voicing their opinions about him — those who have been bashing him — to make sense of the post, implying that he is not the one behind it.

“How can I make that post? Well you know, here I am, I’m going to answer it: Comments will always be there. But what I appeal to everyone eh maglagay naman, let’s have some common sense to get into the equation. Kaya namin tinake-down ‘yon [that’s why we took it down],” the OWWA chief explained.

“And ako lang, sa mga bigayan nang bigayan ng opinyon, susmaryosep naman ano, mahilig tayo masyado sa gano’n eh, let’s dwell on the more significant motions of OWWA, para do’n sa OFW.  Kayo naman, pansinin niyo pa ba naman ‘yong love life ko susmaryosep.  Wala namang kakwenta-kwenta ‘yon,” he noted.

(And for me, those who are dishing opinions, oh my god, please let’s avoid being inclined to gossip, let’s dwell on the more significant motions of OWWA, those for the OFWs. You guys, why would you dwell on my love life? It does not have any sense.)

Several OFWs have complained about the post of the OWWA page, with some claiming that the agency appears too fixated on the ex-television personality.

This is not the first time that netizens complained about the OWWA Facebook page. For example, there were rumblings about a post showing Ignacio at a local porridge shop in Bacoor, Cavite, where a social media manager pointed out that the OWWA Administrator was wearing a luxury watch.

The post was deleted, but netizens also managed to capture screenshots.

“Mga kababayan OFWs… Isang lugawan sa Bacoor, Cavite ang naging susyal […] Naka patek watch ang OWWA Admin Arnell Ignacio diba while eating the lugaw.  Very humble yet sosyal di ba hahaha,” the deleted post read.

(Our OFWs, one porridge shop in Bacoor, Cavite became fancy […] OWWA Admin Arnell Ignacio was wearing a Patek while eating the lugaw. Very humble yet very fancy, right?)

Ignacio said that OWWA is not exempted from their call for the spread of correct information.

“So we’ve addressed this.  At hindi ko naman sinasabi kasi ‘yon na kailangan na natin ng tamang information, hindi naman kami exception do’n eh kasama kami ro’n.  Kaya ang gusto ko ‘yong social media page namin, maging (professional).  Kaya makita mo we’ve taken that down already,” he added.

(So we’ve addressed this. And I did not say that when we need the correct information only, we are an exception. We are also included. That’s why I want our social media page to look professional, that’s why we’ve taken that down already.)

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JPV