The New Conflict in Camp John Hay

             For the ninth time the BasesConservation Development Authority (BCDA) and John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) ignored the invitation for a meeting of the local government of Baguio. This is to clarify some important about the issues in Camp John Hay. Their councilmen wanted to discuss about their 19 conditions which written in Resolution 362, Series of 1994. It tackles about their demands to the agencies like segregation of the 13 barangays, the local government’s share in rental fee in Camp John Hay, the provision of its own water source, etc. Then, the councilmen will also discuss about their intention to reclaim the camp.

            BCDA President Arnel Casanova said that he didn’t attend to that meeting because he and his other officers conducted a corporate planning. While JHMC President and CEO Jaime Eloise Agbayani said that she had a personal appointment in Manila. But both of them promised that they will attend next to the invitation of the local government of Baguio. Well, don’t hold with their words, it is very obvious that they don’t want to have a dialogue with the councilmen of Baguio.

            Before this, Casanova was already said that the 19 conditions have no longer importance because their contract with the developer is already invalid. The CJHDevCo will turn over them camp with them once they pay their 1.4 billion pesos obligation to the developer. But the local government of Baguio emphasized that disregarding the 19 conditions is an equivalent to ignoring the rights of the resident of Baguio City. They said contradicts the statement of the Casanova by saying that the contract is Camp John Hay is between the BCDA and the CJHDevCo and not with the local government of Baguio. So, they have the rights to reclaim the property which belong to their territories.

            Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan should file a complaint to the court to pressure the two agencies to listen with their demands. Maybe Domogan is also aware that Casanova is acting like a dictator in Camp John Hay by forcing the developer and the third party to vacate the camp. Casanova is not listening to any appeals especially from his opponents. As a law practitioner, he is really an expert in arguing even his logics are nonsense. The local government of Baguio can only obtain their demands if they will bring their arguments in a trial court.  They can’t force Casanova and Agbayani to attend in a meeting if they don’t want to show themselves. Of course, they want to protect their interest in Camp John Hay.

Arnel Casanova: The Peace Advocate Who Loves Trouble

                If we will examine the life of the BCDA President Arnel Casanova, we will learn that his story is very admirable. He has a humble beginning; he belonged to the poor family. As a matter of fact, he experienced to live in a slum area. But because of his perseverance he made it on top. He had degrees in English, Law and Urban Planning. He was attained his Master’s degree in Harvard University through the help of scholarship that he got from World Bank. Once he became a professor in Ateneo de Manila University. Because of his intelligence and being smart, he made to enter in public offices.

            Casanova had already received many awards. When he was only 25 years old, he awarded as a peace advocate. It is very far today, he became known as a trouble maker or a bully! In fairness to him, the government recognized him as one of the prime movers in our country. One of his accomplishments was when he converted the former military camp in Taguig into a business district. Then, he launched the SCTEX which is the longest toll-way in the Philippines.

            But in just a blink of an eye, Casanova destroyed his good image when he was involved in corruption and giving a favor to the companies which has a connection with him. Now, he is very controversial because of the trouble he made in Camp John Hay. Because of him, CJHDEvco which is the developer in the camp will be evicted because of Casanova’s personal interest. Because of him also, the government will lose a huge amount of money. The court ordered the BCDA that they should pay first 1.4 billion pesos before the developer leave the camp.

            Is the kind of people who received an award bout being a peace advocate? He doesn’t know how to settle a conflict. What he wants is to follow himself without thinking the affected parties like the local government of Baguio which is the biggest loser in this case because they will lose their revenues from the rent of the developer in the camp. He is not also thinking about the situation of the third parties. Instead, he involved them into their conflict with CJHDevCo. He also wanted to kick out the sub-leases and locators who invested their money in that place.

            Because of the wrong actions of Casanova, it seems that the future of Camp John Hay became uncertain. What’s next after the developer leave the camp? What he will do if he if ever becomes successful from his plan to evict all the third parties? How he can manage the place effectively? Where he can get earnings if there are no running businesses there? It is very clear that Casanova has another plan for the camp. It is very possible that he will pass it to his allied companies. Of course, to do this they need to give him payola!