By Louella D. Desiderio (The
Philippine Star) | Updated April 23, 2015 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - The Bases
Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is calling on Camp John Hay
Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) to abide by the Notice to Vacate Camp John Hay
issued by the Regional Trial Court of Baguio.
According to BCDA president and chief
executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova, CJHDevCo should respect the rule of
law and comply with the notice which was served on Monday.
“The arbitration was a process that
CJHDevCo forced BCDA to participate in. Now that the court has spoken, they
should follow the rule of law and vacate Camp John Hay,” he said.
He said sub-lessees of CJHDevCo are
also advised to seek legal counsel to protect their investment in Camp John Hay
as they are covered by the notice to vacate the property.
With the notice served, CJHDevCo is
given 30 days to leave Camp John Hay and to promptly deliver the leased
property, inclusive of all new constructions and permanent improvements to the
BCDA.
Should CJHDevCo fail to comply with
the notice within the prescribed period, a Writ of Execution – a court order to
enforce a judgment by levying on real or personal property of the debtor – would be given as provided by law.
The notice was issued following the
decision of the arbitration committee under the Philippine Dispute Resolution
Center Inc. (PDRCI) ordering CJHDevCo to vacate the Camp John Hay and return
the property to BCDA.
The BCDA, meanwhile, has been ordered
by the arbitration committee to give back to CJHDevCo lease payments worth
P1.42 billion.
The PDRCI issued the decision as both
parties have concerns under the agreement entered into.
In 1996, BCDA entered into a lease
agreement for a portion of the John Hay Special Economic Zone with CJHDevCo for
25 years.
While the lease agreement is only for
25 years, CJHDevCo sold 50-year leases to sub-lessees.
The BCDA, meanwhile,
has been found to be in breach for among others, failing to set up the One Stop
Action Center to issue national and local permits to enable CJHDevCo to develop
the Camp similar to those established in the Subic and Clark Economic Zones
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