(NI RONNIE CARRASCO III)

THE latest Duterte appointee to have resigned from his post ay si Arnell Ignacio bilang isa sa mga high-ranking officials ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Dati nang pinamunuan ni Arnell ang may kinalaman sa community services development sa Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) bago napunta sa ahensiyang tumutugon sa mga problema ng ating mga OFWs.

Wala rin siyang halos iniwan kay Mocha Uson na noong una’y ipinuwesto sa MTRCB at kalauna’y ginawang Asec ng Presidential Communications Operations Office  (PCOO).

Kapwa nagbitiw sina Mocha at Arnell, except that they gave different reasons for their resignation.

Kinailangang magbitiw ni Mocha dahil sa kanyang ambisyong pumasok sa politika via a party list, samantalang si Arnell had to tender his resignation para i-prioritize ang ilang family concerns he had admittedly neglected.

Aniya, kabilang dito’y making up for his lost time sa piling ng kanyang anak na si Sophia as well as attending to his father who he has discovered is suffering from stage 4 prostate cancer.

Pero aminado si Arnell that he may have left OWWA pero nananatiling nasa puso niya ang kalingain ang ating mga OFWs sa pamamagitan ng ibinibigay na tulong ng ahensiya in addressing their problems.

While Vis a Vis lauds Arnell’s noble, if not selfless efforts towards this end (as opposed to Mocha’s seeming futility back in PCOO) ay hindi namin mapigilang mag-isip that there could be another — kundi man major — reason for and behind the former TV host-comedian’s resignation.

Mas higit kasing kailangan ngayon ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ang anumang puntos (read: pogi at ganda points) pabor sa hanay ng mga kandidato nito this election season. May online voting para sa ating mga OFWs, for one.

Ikalawa, sa mga tulong na ibinibigay ng tanggapan ni Arnell sa kanila for which they’re grateful, nakakatiyak na ang mga administration candidates ng mga boto mula sa mga kamag-anak ng mga ito down to their friends and God-knows-who.

Parang ill-timed lang ang dating sa amin ng pagbibitiw ni Arnell, when for sure ay alam at nauunawaan naman ni Sophia what his job calls for. And that’s spending a little less time for her bukod sa pagsasakripisyo marahil ni Arnell ng ilang self-gratifying needs (read: alam na).

Kilalang prangka (not to be mistaken for prankster) si Arnell who speaks his mind kesehodang may tamaan sa kanyang sinasabi.

Ergo, Vis a Vis is a half-buyer of his “merchandise.” There must be more to his reasons for quitting his job at a time his service and servitude are needed the most.

Magpakatotoo ka na kasi, Arnell… parang OWWA mo na!