SUPREME COURT ORDERS BCDA TO TAKE OVER CAMP JOHN HAY MANAGEMENT

December 14, 2024 Headlines

“Hundreds of employees of Camp John Hay Development Corp. expressed fear about losing their jobs, welfare”

BAGUIO CITY

The State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling to “deny with finality” all motions for reconsideration by private developer CJH Development Corporation (CJH DevCo) and
its third-party respondents, upholding its April 2024 decision allowing the government through BCDA to recover the 247-hectare property in the John Hay Special Economic Zone here. The Supreme Court En Banc in its ruling dated October 22, 2024 and recently released said it has ‘denied with finality’ CJHDevCo’s motions for reconsideration “as no substantial arguments were presented to warrant the reversal of the questioned decision”. The High Tribunal
also said it will no longer entertain further pleadings or motions.

The Clerk of Court of the Supreme Court on October 22, 2024 issued an Entry of Judgment certifying that the Decision dated April 3, 2024, has been filed and recorded with the Judicial Records Office. Such decision granted
BCDA’s Petition for Review on Certioriari and REVERSED AND SET ASIDE the July 30, 2015 Decision of the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court further ruled that “(t)he March 27, 2015 Order of Branch 6, Regional Trial Court of Baguio City in Civil Case No. 7561-R, confirming the Final Award dated February 11, 2015, in PDRCI Case No. 60-2012 is “Reinstated”. The April 14, 2015 Writ of Execution and the Ex-Officio Sheriff’s Notice to Vacate are likewise “Reinstated”, said the High Tribunal.

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision affirms the 2015 arbitral award as well as reinstates the writ of execution
and notice ordering CJH DevCo and all persons claiming rights under them to vacate the subject leased premises within Camp John Hay. The Decision in favor of BCDA has “become final and executory” and has been “recorded in the Book of Entries of Judgments,” BCDA’s Public Affairs Department said Thursday noon. BCDA however assured that businesses will continue to operate in Camp John Hay, while it is closely coordinating with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition. Meanwhile , It was learned that more than a hundreds of CJH DevCo employees fear of
losing their jobs , security and welfare. Random interviews conducted by Amianan Balita Ngayon , employees said they respect the decision of the high court. “Sana lang payagan kami ng gobyerno na manatili kami sa aming mga trabaho.

Mahirap ang mawalan ng trabaho lalo na ngayon ang taas-taas ang mga bilihin,” they appealed. “Magpa Pasko pa, may mga anak pa akong pinag-aaral , saan ako kukuha ng pang bayad ng tuition fee.. ano na lang ang kinabukasan nila “ a teary-eyed mother and employee said. Also, owners of businesses which signed an agreement with CJHDevco displayed quandary about their contracts. Mayor Benjamin Magalong informed reporters during the
year-end briefing last Tuesday that BCDA would honor the agreements made by the third-party stakeholders, but they would need to sign new contracts with the government. Reportedly, the Supreme Court (SC) recently dismissed ‘’with finality” all legal challenges filed by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña’s in hindering to get out from the former US facility.

The decision mandates the eviction of CJHDevco , likewise it required the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to reimburse the developer’s investments. Furthermore, the high court also lifted all the freeze orders affecting the notices to vacate that had been issued in 2015 to John Hay dwellers and business owners and the writ of execution issued that same year by the Baguio Regional Trial Court. It was learned that in span of 16 years, CJHDevco invested more than P1.4 billion pesos to build hotels, luxury residences and a modernized golf course within the sprawling Camp John Hay.

The public especially city residents are cautiously optimistic with the government through BCDA in taking control the management of Camp John Hay, especially pointing out the present condition of the camp, much so the 19 conditionalities prescribed in development. For the record, CJHDevco took over the 1996 lease from a previous consortium the developer (CJHDevco) was locked in legal disputes, extending its lease for another 25 years.

AAD/PA/ABN