CJH developer assails BCDA for ‘harassment’

BAGUIO CITY -- The developer of the Camp John Hay in Baguio City has cried foul over the alleged harassment employed against it by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) said the BCDA allegedly resorted to trial by publicity and filing of suits against the firm instead of settling the dispute  in arbitration proceedings as previously agreed.

CJHDevCo spokesman Manuel Ubarra said BCDA president Arnel Casanova has filed five cases and launched several media offensives, including full-page advertisements in major broadsheets against CJHDevCo since 2010.

“These cases resulted in libel cases, which turned the tables and embarrassed the government due to their false accusations in media releases of Casanova,” Ubarra told journalists based in Manila.

The developer cited a case the BCDA filed against them for squatting, when it turned out that the CJHDevCo security guards accused of sleeping in alleged BCDA property were within the 247-hectare leased area of the developers.

In its latest case, the BCDA accused CJHDevCo officials of malversation. The courts have dismissed 50 counts of the case for lack of merit.

Casanova, in its media statements, has expressed willingness to comply with the order but has not done so since, according to Ubarra.

“We are wondering why Casanova continues to spend  public funds to finance an expensive media campaign that will not in any way help resolve the present dispute between the parties,” he said referring to the full-page advertisement.