John Hay lessee belies double sale of log home

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) recently belied allegations by the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority on the reported double sale of a log home inside the 247-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone that triggered the filing of estafa charges against its officers.

Alfredo Yniguez, CJHDevCo executive vice president and chief executive officer, claimed the estafa case filed by BCDA before the Department of Justice was harassment in retaliation for failure of BCDA to get any favorable ruling from the courts of any take-over of Camp John Hay and refusal to submit itself to arbitration as per existing agreement with CJHDevCo.

The Log Home given by CJHDevCo to BCDA was part of a compromise settlement of CJDevCo and BCDA following BCDA’s breach of the basic Lease Agreement brought about by the 2003 Supreme Court decision nullifying the Camp John Hay Special Economic Zone benefits.

The Log Home was not subject of any contract of sale with any party and therefore, free for disposition of CJHDevCo in favor of BCDA.

“CJHDevCo disputes the reference by BCDA to P2.9 billion rentals during the 5-year period BCDA was in default of its warranties of Special Economic Zone benefits and 30-day guaranty on issuance of all local and national permits for CJHDevCo projects. CJHDevCo maintains it is current in its rental obligations to BCDA per existing agreements,” Yniguez said.

According to him, the HLURB has long held since 6 September 2000 by virtue of the Resolution of the HLURB executive committee that sale of units in Camp John Hay are not subject to the jurisdiction of HLURB and therefore, do not need permits to sell from the HLURB.

“The BCDA confirms in its paid advertisement dated 10 April 2012 that the lease contract of CJHDevCo continues to be valid and subsisting. However, BCDA, in the same ad, deliberately and with apparent malice towards CJHDEVCO, misleads the public by stating that the lease contract will end on October 18, 2021 instead of October 18, 2046,” he said.

Per lease contract, the 25-year term of the lease is renewable for another 25 years at the option of the CJHDevCo, which option has been exercised by CJHDevCo,” he said.

Moreover, the CJHDevCo official said with the BCDA confirming that the CJHDevCo lease contract was valid to date, buyers should be reassured of the validity of their titles and contracts with CJHDEVCO and not to be misled or panic on the series of paid advertisements informing the public on the supposed estafa charges filed by BCDA against the John Hay developer.

“CJHDevCo has always resorted to the rule of law by laying its claims versus BCDA before the courts and Philippine Dispute Resolution Center. These actions of CJHDevCo stand on solid grounds.

BCDA, in complete disregard of the rule-of-law, on the other hand, is resorting to a smear campaign tactic against CJHDevCo and its chairman, instead of meeting CJHDevCo head-to-head before the courts and arbitration body,” Yniguez said.