Thursday, July 23, 2015

Corruption kills

CJHDevco cut Baguio short

Around P850 million of public funds should have been given to the people Baguio and the Cordilleras, says the BCDA chief
Rappler.com
Published 6:00 AM, July 13, 2015
Updated 6:00 AM, Jul 13, 2015
“Mr. Sobrepeña and his friends treat John Hay as their kingdom, they golf and party, they land in Baguio in helicopters and flaunt a life of extravaganza but they continuously fail to meet their obligations to the city of Baguio,” he added.

The BCDA chief cited as an example a tragic incident in August 2011 where at least 3 children died from a landslide in a dumpsite which highlighted Baguio’s decaying urban landscape and need for more public funds for social welfare and infrastructure programs.
“Children like these victims would have been saved from the squalor of poverty if Baguio had gotten more funds from the shares of John Hay,” he added.


The Irisan dump tragedy
September 4, 2011 ALLEN AGPES, Baguio City

The garbage disaster of Irisan dumpsite that claimed six lives and affected 20 houses, of which eight houses are buried, is considered as manmade. What’s next, a health epidemic is possible that should concern every individual of Irisan. This is a violation of the closure order of DENR to the city sometime in 2003. Five years is an ample time to rehabilitate an open dumpsite. The previous administration has allocated P148 million to finally address our garbage problem in compliance to Republic Act 9003. That is more than enough to fund an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL) that would benefit the city for 30 years, as the ultimate solution to our perennial garbage problem.
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MORE ON WEEK'S MAIL


Baguio City eyes state of calamity over dumpsite tragedy

August 30, 2011 8:56am
 
Tags: Baguio City
Officials in Baguio City are considering declaring a state of calamity after a deadly dumpsite accident there killed five people during the height of tropical cyclone “Mina" (international name: Nanmadol) last weekend.


More from: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/230871/news/nation/baguio-city-eyes-state-of-calamity-over-dumpsite-tragedy 




Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Indeed, our people deserve better

Baguio assured of share in John Hay

BAGUIO CITY—The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) assured the Baguio government on Friday that it would continue receiving its 25 percent share from revenues generated by Camp John Hay, even after the loss of the developer with which the government agency had been feuding since 2012.
“We commit within our powers that if there are future revenues to be generated from further development of Camp John Hay, we will respect the 25 percent share [which is one of 19 conditions set by Baguio in 1994 when it consented to the development of the former American rest and recreation base land],” BCDA president Arnel Paciano Casanova said at a special session convened by the city council.
Casanova met with Mayor Mauricio Domogan and the council members to discuss the aftermath of a feud between BCDA and its developer, Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevco).
An arbitral ruling voided the Camp John Hay development lease agreement and required CJHDevco to return 240-hectares of built-up areas inside the tourism complex to the government. It also ordered BCDA to reimburse CJHDevco’s rent amounting to P1.42 billion.
The ruling, however, was elevated to the Court of Appeals (CA) which was expected to decide on July 30 on how the locators and homeowners inside Camp John Hay would be treated as a result of the lease agreement’s dissolution.
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Hiyang hiya naman kami sa 'yo Bob Sobrepena!


"Shameless if you ask me, what CJHDevco has done. Arnel Paciano Casanova, you are doing the right thing." 
~ Dean Tony La Viña 


BCDA says CJHDevco cut Baguio short - Around P850 million of public funds should have been given to the people Baguio and the Cordilleras, says the BCDA chief - RAPPLER.COM


Monday, July 13, 2015

PUBLIC WARNING

NORTHERN PHILIPPINE TIMES


BCDA chief warns public not to pay ‘ousted’ lessee for John Hay services

>> THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015

http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2015/07/bcda-chief-warns-public-not-to-pay.html

BAGUIO CITY -- The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) warned the public that it will not honor any payments made to the Sobrepeña-led Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo), its subsidiaries and affiliates for advance bookings and reservations in Camp John Hay urging the public to demand a refund.

“It has come to our attention that customers may have paid CJHDevCo, its subsidiaries and affiliates advance payments for reservations and booking up to the year 2016 in The Manor Hotel, Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay Gold Club and other facilities. BCDA president and chief executive officer ArnelPaciano D. Casanova said.

He said the BCDA will not honor advance payments made to CJHDevCo, its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Casanova said at present, CJHDevCo has no authority to operate in Camp John Hay because there is no longer an existing contract between BCDA and CJHDevCo and that CJHDevCo has not been issued a permit by the John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC).

Casanova said based on writ of execution issued by the court, it will only be a matter of time before the BCDA takes full possession of CJHDevCo’s leased premises and properties.

The confirmation of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 6 of Baguio on the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) arbitral tribunal’s final award that orders CJHDevCo to vacate leased premises and promptly deliver the leased property to BCDA, inclusive of all new constructions and permanent improvements introduced during the term of the lease, is final and executory.

Casanova said what BCDA does not want to happen is for those who have paid CJHDevCo in advance, be left hanging because they paid an entity which does not have any legal basis or authority to fulfill its obligation to the customer.

“Imagine paying CHJHDevCo in advance for a wedding reception in 2016 only to find out that it is BCDA who is operating the hotel by that time. Definitely, BCDA cannot honor the contract the customer made with CJHDevCo,” Casanova said.

He said those who already paid in advance are advised to protect their investment and demand for a refund.

For inquiries or intention to book a reservation in Camp John Hay, the public is advised to get in touch with:

John Hay Management Corp in Baguio at (+6374) 423-5403, (+6374) 422-1963, Mobile No.: +639285018717,email at helpdesk@jhmc.com.ph. 

The BCDA Manila office could also be contacted at Mobile No.: +639773483025 or email at johnhay@bcda.gov.ph

This, as the city council and BCDA officials will meet July 10 at 9-11 a.m. at Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall.

The body set the meeting as a special session after getting confirmation from Casanova of his attendance.

The meeting will be devoted to issues concerning Camp John Hay with special focus on 19 conditions set by the city in relation to the development of the former military reservation as per Resolution Numbered 362, series of 1994. 

The councilors earlier sought a dialogue with Casanova and JHMC president and chief executive officer Jamie Eloise Agbayani but they were not available.

Councilors said issues will be clarified and problems will be resolved during the meeting.

The talk is expected to center on the implications of the court order rescinding the lease agreement between the BCDA and the Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).

Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier said despite rescission of the agreement, BCDA must still honor 19 conditions set by the city government, being a bilateral accord between the city government and BCDA.

The aldermen are also expected to query on crucial issues including the segregation of the 13 barangays from the reservation, provision of its own water source and the city’s share from the lease rentals.

The city earlier complained against the BCDA’s refusal to allow locators to secure building and business permits from the city government, failure to provide an independent water source, segregate the 13 barangays from the reservation and remit the city’s shares from the lease rentals. 

Sobrepena's John Hay Golf Club and CAP Trade Center insults public intelligence, pretend to be innocent sub lessees




July 14, 2015 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Lazada Philippines

Nation



Posted on July 09, 2015 11:28:00 PM

3 Google +0  0 


BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said that CJHDevCo was merely using its subsidiaries and affiliates to act as innocent sublessees to delay its eviction from the 247-hectare facility.

He claimed the intervenors have been aware of the arbitration proceedings, contrary to the third-party investors’ statements.

The statement claimed that only businesses directly controlled or connected to the evicted developer have come out to become intervenors to the case, noting that CJHDevCo and CAP Trade have the same officers and shareholders. -- Vince Alvic Alexis F. Nonato

BCDA slams developer’s bid to delay eviction

July 9, 2015 9:23 pm
http://www.manilatimes.net/bcda-slams-developers-bid-to-delay-eviction/198933/

PRIVATE developer Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) is using its subsidiaries and affiliates to act as innocent sublessees to delay its eviction from the 247-hectare former American recreational facility in Baguio City, the state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said.
The Court of Appeals’ Special Fifth Division on Thursday heard the motion for intervention of Camp John Hay Golf Club and the CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center on the petition filed by CJHDevCo, which sought to prevent the BCDA from executing the arbitration panel’s decision to evict third-party sub lessees in John Hay.
At the hearing, the court issued a status quo order preventing the BCDA from evicting CJHDevCo from the recreational facility.
“John Hay Golf Club and the CAP Trade Center are actually trying to mislead the court to believe that they are innocent sublessees,” BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said.
The golf club and the CAP-JHTCC are owned and managed by the same officers and shareholders of the evicted consortium led by businessman and dealmaker Robert Sobrepeña.
The Rules of Court provides that “a person who is so situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of property in the custody of the court or of an officer thereof may be allowed to intervene in the action.”
The BCDA chief said the so-called intervenors have been aware all the time of the dispute with the BCDA and the arbitration proceedings.
“It is a ploy to stall the execution of a court order [of eviction],” Casanova said.
“And while at it, CJHDevCo continues to profit and collect payments from the unsuspecting public using John Hay facilities without any obligation to the national government,” he added.
CJHDevCo has no authority to operate in John Hay because there is no longer an existing contract between BCDA and CJHDevCo, BCDA said.
“The public should not fall victim to this kind of scheme by CJHDevCo,” warned the BCDA chief.
He recalled that the College Assurance Plan, which was also led by Sobrepeña, had defaulted on its obligations to thousands of plan holders after a prolonged legal row.
“The BCDA will not honor advance payments made to CJHDevCo, its subsidiaries and affiliates,” Casanova clarified, adding that based on the writ of execution issued by the court, the BCDA will eventually take full possession of CJHDevCo’s leased premises and properties.
There are reportedly 1,600 third party sub lessees but only those businesses directly controlled or connected to the evicted developer have come out in public to become “intervenors” to the case.
The BCDA head noted that several third party sub lessees not connected to CJHDevCo, which he considers as “partners in the future development of John Hay,” continue to renegotiate with the BCDA.
Casanova reiterated that CJHDevCo has contractual obligations to sub lessees and urged the latter to sue CJHDevCo for the refund of payments already made but will most likely not be completely delivered because of the eviction order.



BCDA hits delayed eviction of Camp John Hay developer

http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2015/07/bcda-hits-delayed-eviction-of-camp-john.html

>> MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015


‘Innocent investors used’ 




BAGUIO CITY – The Bases Conversion and Development Authority on Wednesday said the private developer Camp John Hay Development Corp (CJHDevco) is using its subsidiaries and affiliates to act as innocent sub lessees to delay its eviction from the 247-hectare former American recreational facility in Baguio City.

 The Court of Appeals’ Special Fifth Division was set to hear July 9 the motion for intervention of Camp John Hay Golf Club and the CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center on the petition filed by CJHDevco which sought to prevent the BCDA from executing the arbitration panel’s decision to evict third-party sub lessees in John Hay.

 “John Hay Golf Club and the CAP Trade Center are actually trying to mislead the court to believe that they are innocent sub lessees,” BCDA president and CEO ArnelPaciano Casanova said.

 The golf club and the CAP-JHTCC are owned and managed by the same officers and shareholders of the evicted consortium led by businessman and dealmaker Robert Sobrepena.

 The rules of court provides that “a person who is so situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of property in the custody of the court or of an officer thereof may be allowed to intervene in the action.”

 The BCDA chief said the so-called intervenors have been aware all the time of the dispute with BCDA and the arbitration proceedings.

 “It is a ploy to stall the execution of a court order (of eviction),” Casanova said.

 “And while at it, CJHDevco continues to profit and collect payments from the unsuspecting public using John Hay facilities without any obligation to the national government,” he added.

 CJHDevco has no authority to operate in John Hay because there is no longer an existing contract between BCDA and CJHDevco. 

 “The public should not to fall victims to this kind of scheme by CJHDevco,” warned the BCDA chief and added that the College Assurance Plan, which was also led by Sobrepena, defaulted on its obligations to thousands of plan holders after a prolonged legal row.

 “The BCDA will not honor advance payments made to CJHDevco, its subsidiaries and affiliates,” Casanova clarified and added that based on the Writ of Execution issued by the court, the BCDA will eventually take full possession of CJHDevco’s leased premises and properties.

 There are reportedly 1,600 third party sub lessees but only those businesses directly controlled or connected to the evicted developer have come out in public to become “intervenors” to the case.

The BCDA head noted that several third party sub lessees not connected to CJHDevco continue to renegotiate with the BCDA which he considers as “partners in the future development of John Hay.”

Casanova reiterated that CJHDevco has contractual obligations to sub lessees and urged the latter to sue CJHDevco for refund of payments already made but will most likely not be completely delivered because of the eviction order.

Meanwhile, the BCDA special session will push through on July 10 at city xouncil session hall.

The body set the 9-11 a.m. meeting as a special session after getting confirmation from Casanova of his attendance.

http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2015/07/bcda-hits-delayed-eviction-of-camp-john.html