BCDA hits delayed eviction of Camp John Hay developer

‘Innocent investors used’ 

BAGUIO CITY – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority on Wednesday said the private developer Camp John Hay Development Corp (CJHDevco) is using its subsidiaries and affiliates to act as innocent sub lessees to delay its eviction from the 247-hectare former American recreational facility in Baguio City.

 The Court of Appeals’ Special Fifth Division was set to hear July 9 the motion for intervention of Camp John Hay Golf Club and the CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center on the petition filed by CJHDevco which sought to prevent the BCDA from executing the arbitration panel’s decision to evict third-party sub lessees in John Hay.

 “John Hay Golf Club and the CAP Trade Center are actually trying to mislead the court to believe that they are innocent sub lessees,” BCDA president and CEO ArnelPaciano Casanova said.

 The golf club and the CAP-JHTCC are owned and managed by the same officers and shareholders of the evicted consortium led by businessman and dealmaker Robert Sobrepena.

 The rules of court provides that “a person who is so situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of property in the custody of the court or of an officer thereof may be allowed to intervene in the action.”

 The BCDA chief said the so-called intervenors have been aware all the time of the dispute with BCDA and the arbitration proceedings.

 “It is a ploy to stall the execution of a court order (of eviction),” Casanova said.

 “And while at it, CJHDevco continues to profit and collect payments from the unsuspecting public using John Hay facilities without any obligation to the national government,” he added.

 CJHDevco has no authority to operate in John Hay because there is no longer an existing contract between BCDA and CJHDevco. 

 “The public should not to fall victims to this kind of scheme by CJHDevco,” warned the BCDA chief and added that the College Assurance Plan, which was also led by Sobrepena, defaulted on its obligations to thousands of plan holders after a prolonged legal row.

 “The BCDA will not honor advance payments made to CJHDevco, its subsidiaries and affiliates,” Casanova clarified and added that based on the Writ of Execution issued by the court, the BCDA will eventually take full possession of CJHDevco’s leased premises and properties.

 There are reportedly 1,600 third party sub lessees but only those businesses directly controlled or connected to the evicted developer have come out in public to become “intervenors” to the case.

The BCDA head noted that several third party sub lessees not connected to CJHDevco continue to renegotiate with the BCDA which he considers as “partners in the future development of John Hay.”

Casanova reiterated that CJHDevco has contractual obligations to sub lessees and urged the latter to sue CJHDevco for refund of payments already made but will most likely not be completely delivered because of the eviction order.

Meanwhile, the BCDA special session will push through on July 10 at city xouncil session hall.

The body set the 9-11 a.m. meeting as a special session after getting confirmation from Casanova of his attendance.