Earlier
this year, the arbitration court had already released their decision regarding
to the dispute between the Bases Conservation and Development Authority (BCDA)
and Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo). The Philippine Dispute
Resolution Center, Inc. ordered to the CJHDevCo, the developer of the former
American Bases that they should leave the camp. In exchange of it, the BCDA
should pay first them an amount of 1.4 billion pesos which serves as a damage fee.
At
first, BCDA Arnel Casanova was very happy to the decision of the court because
he was successful from his intention to evict the CJHDevCo in Camp John Hay.
But the truth speaks itself; their agency is the loser here because they need
to pay a huge amount of money to the developer. At least, the CJHDevCo can
recover their investment over the camp. But how about them where they get the
funds? This budget is a big loss from the national government. Instead to make
a profit to the camp, now they have an instant debt to the investors. This was happened
because of the wrong leadership of Casanova.
Casanova
can’t provide the 1.4 billion pesos that’s why he is harassing the CJHDevCo. In
the month of April this year, the BCDA tried to evict forcibly the developer
and the third party in the camp. The office of the Ex-officio Sheriff of the
first Judicial Region Branch 6 of Baguio RTC served a notice against their
group and to their locators and tenants. But the early eviction had been stop
through the TRO that they got from the court. It seems that Casanova doesn’t
want to follow the rule of law. Before this, he already sent a n armed group in
Camp John Hay to threaten the developer and businessmen there.
Based
to the previous statement of CJHDevCo Chairman Robert Sobrepena, their company
is really willing to surrender the camp in the hands of the government. But of
course, as what the court had been ordered, the BCDA should pay them first
their obligation with them. The RTC of Baguio City was already confirmed the
PDRCI’s decision. The only problem here, the developer doesn’t know if Casanova
is willing to pay them. It seems that the BCDA is doing a hocus focus to escape
from their debt. The agency involved the third party to their dispute with the
developer to make great trouble inside the camp. But sorry to say, CJHDevCo and
the third party have been united to fight the abusive leader of BCDA.
If we
will look at the whole picture, aside from the government, the residence of
Baguio City is the big loser because their local government can’t get anymore
their share from the earning in payment rental.
Casanova destroyed the essence of the Public- Private Partnership
Program of the national government. Instead to work with the investor, he is
pushing them to go away. Maybe it is about time to kick out Casanova then
demolish the BCDA because this has no significant at all. As what we learned,
the BCDA was built to help the modernization of the AFP; but until now they
don’t give any great contribution to our military people. And now, he is
destroying the future of Camp John Hay which is known as one of the best
tourist attractions in Baguio City!
