Camp John Hay in the Midst of Uncertainty

            The Bases Conservation and Development Authority(BCDA) is still making trouble in the Camp John Hay. Even the arbitration court had already made a win-win solution about their case against the Camp John Hay Development Authority. To settle the problem, the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) decided that the camp should turn over to the government. But the BCDA should pay the developer an amount of 1.4 billion as a damage fee. The court also rejected the claimed of the agency that the developer had owed them about more than 3 million pesos because of breached of contract. The agency failed to build a one stop shop to speed up the development process inside the camp.

            Now, the BCDA President Arnel Casanova is threatening the locators and the sub-leases in the Camp John Hay. Casanova reminded to the third party that they should not be relaxed. For him, it is not true that they are exempted to the ordered of the court. He pointed out that the government had no contract with them. It means that once the CJHDevCo will leave the camp, the locators and sub-leases should also leave. It sounds right, but the third party is not involved with their conflict. So, the BCDA should respect their right even Casanova like it or not. But the problem, Casanova is still insisting his position because he wanted to monopolize the business inside the camp. He also said that if the locators and the sub-leases wants to recover their loses; they should extract from the 1.4 billion that they set to pay to the developer. Is this a joke or an other bullying tactic to irritate their opponent.

            There is also a report that Casanova is asking the sub-leases and locators to give him a copy of their contracts or documents with the CJHDevCo. If they would not comply with his request, they will be kicked out in the camp. Casanova is really expert in terms of threatening and harassing to get what he want. He is using his power to aggravate those group who doesn’t agree with his management style. How true that he is using his position to get some kickbacks from other companies? Maybe this is the reason why he is pushing the interest of the companies who gave him a favor. The question is who will replace CJHDevCo after they leave the camp?

            Is it true that the BCDA president is a member of third sex? There is a rumor saying that he is dating with handsome males. I don’t care about the  sexual preference of Casanova, the only issue is if he is using the money from the agency to satisfy himself.  As a public official he is accountable to that money that generates by his agency. Casanova’s leadership is really questionable because amidst the truth that the BCDA is earning a decent amount of money from the assets they are handling, the agency  doesn’t give any contribution for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Based on the law, they must allocate the 50% of their earning to the AFP; but Casanova doesn’t follow it.

            The public should know where Casanova uses the funds under his office. He should also undergo in an investigation what his motive behind the take over of Camp John Hay. For he is destroying the public-private partnership (PPI) that built by the national government to convince the private companies to invest in government properties. By doing this, he is putting in danger the livelihood of many people who already getting benefits from the projects of the investors. 

CJHDevCo to BCDA: The Battle is Not Yet Over

           The Bases Conservation Development Authority (BCDA) claimed that they won over the case that they filed against the Camp John Hay Development Authority (CJHDevCo). After the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) declared the developer should turn over the Camp John Hay into the custody of the government. BCDA President Arnel Casanova had been rejoicing to the decision of the arbitration court without balancing the facts.

            It seems that Casanova forgot that the court dismissed their claimed that the CJHDevCo have a debt on them which cost 3.3 billion pesos for unpaid rental fee. Then, the court gave their favored to the developer when they ordered that the BCDA should return the 1.4 billion pesos that the developer paid for their rental fee to the government since 1996. So, what’s behind the logic of the raw celebration of Casanova’s group. Even they will give that amount to the developer, it will not be honored unless the Tribunal Court of Baguio would confirm the decision of the PDRCI. The CJHDevCo really knew the rule of law. Contrary to the action of Casanova who don’t know how to respect the decision of the court. There is a report that he sent a SWAT team in Camp John Hay to intmidate the private investor there.

            Well, Casanova is known for being a bully. Once, he tried to stop the inauguration of the SM Aura, a rival mall of Market Market which also located in Taguig. He was also accompanied by an armed group during that time. Of course, he did that because he is a close friend to the owners or management of Ayala Group. This company has also an interest in Camp John Hay. Maybe this is the primary reason why Casanova is pushing to take over the place.

            The reason behind the trouble in Camp John Hay is due to the arrogance and caprice of Casanova. Instead to make a harmonious relationship to the private investor, he is harassing them to vacate the place although the CJHDevCo is doing their job very well. They made a lot of changes and development in the area but the BCDA didn’t support their effort. Instead, he filed an estafa case against CJHDevCo Chairman Robert Sobrepena although he had no basis. Thank God, it was dismissed by the Pasay Regional Court.

            Casanova forgot that the BCDA was built to support the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and not to harass the developer. Under the law, the BCDA should give 50% of their earnings to the AFP. But despite of the huge profits that they have been collected since it was built, the agency didn’t give an important contribution to the AFP. Now, other lawmakers are bashing Casanova because of that issue. They are asking the BCDA President where he allocated their profits? Hmm, it seems that Casanova is cooking for something that’s why he is very eager to get Camp John Hay.