The Philippines’ chapter of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) has voiced support for the Catholic Church’s call to tackle corruption and oppose political destabilization, following Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David’s push for accountability in major flood control projects.
FIABCI-Ph chairman Dr. Reghis M. Romero II said ongoing investigations into corruption should strengthen the government, not weaken it.
“The focus should be on reform, not the collapse of the state,” he said, reflecting industry concerns over potential economic fallout from political upheaval.
Dr. Romero endorsed Cardinal David’s Facebook post dismissing calls for a military takeover as attempts by “dynasties and plunderers” to avoid accountability. Cardinal David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), emphasized dismantling corrupt networks rather than the government itself.
“We do not need to burn the house down to get rid of the rats,” he said.
The CBCP’s statement, Beyond Survival: Rising Above the Floods of Corruption, comes amid congressional probes into alleged corruption in large flood control projects, launched after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. denounced such practices in his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28.
In a letter to CBCP president Architect Nestor S. Mangio, Dr. Romero urged FIABCI-Ph officers and members to follow the Church’s guidance: be vigilant, reject patronage politics, support independent investigations, demand justice, and lead by example.
Architect Mangio confirmed FIABCI-Ph’s backing, saying the organization will encourage the real estate and construction sectors to adhere to CBCP recommendations and noting the industry’s role in supporting livelihoods and the broader economy.
FIABCI, a global federation of property and professional organizations, has 48 national chapters, 90 professional associations, and a presence in more than 70 countries.
Dr. Romero expressed confidence that collaboration between FIABCI-Ph and the CBCP could help the country confront social, political, and moral challenges.
“I am confident this gesture will help us rise above the floods of corruption facing the nation,” he said.