BCDA hits John Hay lessee over cases, ‘P3 billion debt’

BAGUIO CITY – The Bases Conversion Development Authority assailed the Camp John Hay Development Corp.,

Anew over the latter’s “P3 million debt to the government” citing CJHDevCo’s string of criminal indictments and dismissed cases related to the uncollected money.

The CJHDevco now manages parts of Camp John Hay after it was leased by the government to the firm after the after it was turned over by the US government which used it as a military camp and recreation center. 

Speaking at a recent media forum, BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said CJHDevCo chairman Robert John Sobrepeña, chief executive officer Alfredo R. Yniguez III and two others have been charged with malversation by the Department of Justice for refusing to return 26 BCDA-owned hotel units located in Camp John Hay Manor and Camp John Hay Suites, Baguio City while continuing to earn from these units.

Sobrepeña pleaded not guilty.

Recently, CJHDevCo’s lawyer and spokesperson, Manuel Ubarra Jr., was charged by the DOJ with perjury before the Municipal Trial Court of Quezon City allegedly for making false accusations against directors of the BCDA before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In its resolution, the DOJ said “respondent Ubarra is a lawyer. It needs no reiteration that the ethical standards applicable to a member of the bar, who thereby automatically becomes a court officer, must necessarily be one higher than that of the market place.”

Casanova said while the BCDA’s cases against CJHDevCo officials are making progress and headed for trial, CJHDevCo’s own cases against the BCDA have been dismissed.

Recently, the DOJ dismissed the libel case filed by William Russell L. Sobrepeña, older brother of Robert John Sobrepeña, against officials of the BCDA for lack of probable cause.

The elder Sobrepeña’s case against the BCDA was the latest from CJHDevCo that have been junked by the courts.

Previously, libel charges filed by CJHDevCo against BCDA officials were dismissed, while a perjury charge against Casanova was also junked.

Casanova said the P3 billion CJHDevCo owes the government can be used to fund infrastructure, develop livelihood and medical programs, improve Baguio’s tourist sites, and other initiatives.

As the cases against Sobrepeña and other CJHDevCo officials head to the courts for trial, the arbitration between the BCDA and CJHDevCo is likewise proceeding, which Casanova said the agency will abide by.

“We are committed to respecting the arbitration process, and we have prepared all our documents and evidence,” Casanova said.

The arbitration is expected to reach a resolution by early 2014.

Aside from the malversation and perjury charges, the BCDA had also previously charged CJHDevCo with estafa for the “double sale” of a property in Camp John Hay, and with professional squatting for the building of illegal structures within Camp John Hay.