Camp John Hay row reaches Palace

MANILA, Philippines - The conflict arising from the attempt of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to wrest control of properties it has leased to the private developer of Camp John Hay in Baguio City has reached Malacañang.

This, after the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) complained before the Palace the recent bid of BCDA to terminate the lease agreement despite an order of the Baguio City regional trial court temporarily stopping the takeover.

In a letter received by the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. last May 24, CJHDevCo disputed the notice of termination issued last May 15 by the BCDA, which also demanded payment of over P3 billion for supposed “material and incurable breaches of contractual obligations.”

The developer said BCDA’s allegations were “baseless, false, malicious and unfounded.”

It said there is no basis for the lease termination and demand for P3,007,712,654.

“Contrary to the wild and reckless allegations, CJHDevCo has fulfilled its obligations in good faith,” said company president Ferdinand Santos.