Camp John Hay Homeowners and Investors -- Victory is Achieved!

Victory is achieved! After months of agonizing days and sleepless nights, it is safe to say that justice is now served in Camp John Hay’s third parties. These investors who bought properties inside Camp John Hay can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Court of Appeals rendered a final decision to let these third parties stay and manage their properties. In a recent decision, the Court of Appeals permits Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevco) to stay and continue operations until the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) paid the company P1.4 billion as compensation.

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The investors, locators, and sub lessees hardship & difficulties finally bear fruits. The road to this victory was long, taxing and winding to the extend that some lessees thought it is best to just pack their bags and abandoned their hard earned properties. But the wheel of fortune turns to their side - from a picture of hopeless case, from a that it even reached to a point wherein homeowners started packing their bags ready to leave and abandon their properties; and just when everybody thought that this could turn into a hopeless case, justice still prevailed through the Court of Appeals’ final decision.

Finally, the legal issue between BCDA and CJHDevCo has been resolved after more than a decade of battle. The court's decision has affirmed that the lessees has availed the properties in good faith. The recent development also proved that justice still prevails in our judicial system.

This is a victory for CJHDevCo and more importantly, for the Camp John Hay Homeowners and Investors who finally get their wish to live without worrying that they can be evicted from their properties until 2046. The recent development also proved that justice still prevails in our judicial system.

With this development, the people of Baguio City through the initiative of its mayor and the City Council can now pursue its dream of making their city a haven for both local and foreign investors as well as a world class tourist destination.

Casanova Commits Another Blunder

If the ongoing City of Baguio vs BCDA word war can be likened to a chess game, then Casanova had committed a fatal blunder. His last move is a dubious and a fatal one. Let's now leave the chess game and go to the actual facts surrounding Arnel Casanova's latest mistake.

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Recently, the BCDA terminated its contract with Camp John Hay Development Corporation. Thus, the Baguio City council scheduled a meeting to discuss the 19 conditions involving the turnover of authority from the JHMC to the BCDA.

The city dads wanted to resolved a very sensitive issue. They wanted to discuss with BCDA if it will honor the honor the conditions, despite the termination of the lease agreement.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan even issued a statement stating that city government is prepared to take over Camp John Hay as soon as the litigation battle between BCDA and CJHDevCo has finally be resolved.

The city government has in their possession a “19 conditions,” document it deemed vital to the smooth handover of CJH. Melchor Carlos Rabanes, the city Legal Office Officer-in-Charge has a firmed conviction that BCDA must stick it out to what the conditions stipulated. Specifically mentioned is Condition 16 of Resolution 362 that stated once the contract between the BCDA and the developer ENDS, all improvements will be turned over to the city government (Baguio City). The smart lawyer even went further by stating that BCDA recognized the '19 conditions' when it inserted it in its contract with the developer.

And now comes Arnel Casanova's dubious move. He and JHMC President and CEO Jaime Eloise Agbayani snubbed the meeting! Casanova can't make it since he and his other officers conducted a corporate planning. Damn reason, he could have set that corporate planning to a later date just to accommodate that vital meeting.

I wonder what's on Casanova head. Perhaps, he is biding for time up to situation wherein BCDA has 1.4 billion pesos it owed CJHDevCo. Another case of self interest winning over the welfare of the common people. Gosh, Mr. Casanova, just give the people of Baguio what they wanted ever since - a better, secured life. Is it too much for you to give in to the poor people demands? Prolonging their agony is the same as keeping justice away from them.

If Casanova continues with his arrogant antics through harassment and delaying tactics, there is no recourse, but for Baguio city officials to file a case against BCDA. Observers believe that BCDA and JHMC would not surrender Camp John Hay to Baguio City, but instead go all out to have the former base back in its control. Therefore, this legal battle over Camp John Hay control is far from over and will have another chapter.