‘BCDA, John Hay lessee tiff affecting city tourism’

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week said the conflict between the Bases Conversion Development Authority John Hay Management Corp. and Camp John Hay Development Corp, has hurt not only the city’s tourism industry but the plight of the Camp John Hay Special Economic Zone workforce.

“Camp John Hay is no doubt one of our best tourism come-ons and the conflict between the parties definitely affects the operation of the center and also affects the welfare of the employees working in the zone,” the mayor said.

He urged parties to exercise diplomacy in resolving their conflict to avoid causing further harm.

“I hope the parties will deal with the matter with tact and diplomacy. The court has issued (orders relative to the legal dispute) and I hope they will respect those (court orders) to avoid creating confusion and avoid adverse effects on the tourism business and on the livelihood of their own employees,” the mayor said.

Last Feb. 5, CJH Leisure Inc. locators which include The Manor, The Forest Lodge, CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center complained of JHMC’s alleged “act of obstructing” their operations after the JHMC allegedly prevented them from bringing in goods and business implements into the zone purportedly due their lack of permit to operate from the JHMC.

In a letter to the mayor, CJH Leisure managing director Heinrich Maulbecker said the JHMC ignored their permit issued by the city government, an act that Maulbecker said “constitutes open defiance of the sovereignty and police power of the Local Government of Baguio City.”

Maulbecker recalled a regional trial court decision which sided with the city on the permit issue.

The said court decision is however currently on appeal before the higher court.

Maulbecker asked the city government to enforce its authority in issuing said permits and to provide them police assistance to bring in the goods to the zone but city police director Jesus Cambay however denied the request saying the matter involves a “controversy that is purely civil in nature” and which is not under the ambit of the police.

“While such enforcement of the Permit to Engage in Business may have a legal implication on the pending case between CJHDevCo and BCDA, we note that an Injunction Order has been issued. Hence, any request for the implementation/enforcement thereof should comply with the requirements of our Police Operational Procedures which provides police assistance shall be granted only upon written request of the Sheriff and accompanied by a valid order issued by a competent court.

The court recently issued an injunction order preventing a JHMC takeover of the Camp John Hay thus maintaining a status quo for CJHDevCo to continue operating in the zone.