BAGUIO CITY — The federal government is about to retake management of Camp John Hay following a Supreme Court docket decision that dismissed “with finality” all authorized challenges delaying the exit of businessman Robert John Sobrepeña’s Camp John Hay Growth Corp. (CJHDevco) from the previous American relaxation and recreation base.
The Bases Conversion and Growth Authority (BCDA) confirmed on Thursday that the excessive court docket had upheld its April 3 choice, reinstating an arbitration ruling that voided the John Hay growth lease. The ruling mandates the eviction of CJHDevco, with the BCDA required to reimburse the developer’s investments.
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CJHDevco took over the 1996 lease from a earlier consortium, investing P1.42 billion over 16 years to construct inns, luxurious residences and a modernized golf course inside Camp John Hay. Nevertheless, disputes with the BCDA arose in 2012 over the restructuring of the lease settlement, resulting in a protracted authorized battle characterised by a public phrase conflict and a number of lawsuits.
In 2015, the Philippine Dispute Decision Middle issued an arbitral ruling that voided the lease attributable to mutual breaches of contract by each events. The ruling required CJHDevco to return all properties to the federal government whereas the BCDA should reimburse the expenditures.
Regardless of this, CJHDevco’s 1,600 shoppers—together with golf membership members and long-term lessees of forest houses—contested the choice. They argued that their 25-year lease agreements, with renewal choices for one more 25 years, needs to be honored. The case had reached the Court docket of Appeals, which amended the arbitral ruling.
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Finally, the Supreme Court docket reversed the appellate court docket’s choice in April, reinstating the unique arbitral choice.
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With the Supreme Court docket’s remaining decision, the trail is now clear for the federal government to take full management of Camp John Hay, bringing an finish to a decade-long dispute over one of many nation’s most iconic properties.
Unfrozen
The excessive court docket additionally lifted all of the freeze orders affecting the notices to vacate that had been issued in 2015 to John Hay dwellers and enterprise house owners and the writ of execution issued that very same yr by the Baguio Regional Trial Court docket.
Earlier than the Supreme Court docket launched its John Hay ruling, Sobrepeña and the BCDA had been within the midst of settling the case.
However CJHDevco and its so-called third-party stakeholders filed the motions for reconsideration of the April ruling. However the Supreme Court docket stated in a decision dated Oct. 22 that “no substantial arguments” had been offered to warrant the reversal of the choice.
“No additional pleadings or motions will probably be entertained,” the excessive court docket stated. As of press time, the Inquirer has been unable to safe a duplicate of the decision from the Supreme Court docket web site.
Marlo Ignacio Quadra, president of BCDA subsidiary John Hay Administration Corp., stated he “will await the directions of BCDA,” when requested how the federal government would deal with John Hay Manor, the John Hay Forest Lodge and different CJHDevco properties.
At a year-end briefing on Dec. 11, Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong stated he was knowledgeable that the BCDA would honor the agreements made by the third-party stakeholders, however they would want to signal new contracts with the federal government.
Magalong stated Baguio’s final accounting positioned the BCDA’s obligations at over P200 million.
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With the most recent ruling, the BCDA stated companies would proceed to function at Camp John Hay, including it’s carefully coordinating with all stakeholders to make sure a easy transition. —with a report from Alden M. Monzon
