Ambassador to US urges congressional nod for sale of Philippine properties abroad

There should be a law requiring congressional approval for the sale of the Philippines' pieces of property abroad, Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Wednesday.

At a news forum, Romualdez said the Philippine government made a mistake when it sold a property in San Francisco, calling the sale “penny-wise and pound-foolish."

Another state property was also sold in London in front of Kensington Place, he added.

The transactions were made under previous administrations.

Romualdez said that he will seek for the help of his cousin Leyte Representative and presumptive Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in legislating the said measure.

“I’m even talking to then Senator Lacson that we should come out with a new law that all properties will be placed under one government corporation that will take care of maintaining it and making sure that it is well taken care of," Romualdez said.

"At the same time, it cannot be sold without approval of the Philippine Congress. Not just anyone who has some crazy idea of just selling these properties just like that," he added.

Properties in Japan

Romualdez said it would be the “highest crime” if the government would sell Philippines-owned real estate in Japan.

“Definitely, ‘yung mga properties sa Japan, that is even more serious. ‘Yung mga properties sa Japan, that is paid for by the Filipino blood. I think it is the highest crime for us to simply sell that just like that to raise money for what? You can never get back those properties,” Romualdez said.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte said in 2020 that the government was planning to sell properties, including those in Japan, to augment the funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The Philippines acquired four properties in Japan as part of the reparations agreement signed by the two countries in 1956. These are located in Roponggi and Nampeidai in Tokyo, and Naniwa-cho and Obanoyama-cho in Kobe.

Former Palace spokesperson Harry Roque then said then that the country would sell its pieces of property in Japan only if it was necessary. —NB, GMA News