The Dirty Tactics of Arnel Casanova

          Bases Conservation and Development Authority (BCDA) President Arnel Casanova is still harassing the Camp John Hay DevelopmentAuthority (CJHDevCo)  including locators and sub-leases of the former American bases. Earlier this year, the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) had release their decision stating that the CJHDevCo should turnover the camp to the government. Provided, the BCDA should pay them 1.4 billion pesos first before the developer could leave the camp.

            

          The ordered of the court was very clear and no question about it. The only problem, Casanova is very aggressive to take over the Camp John Hay although he is still not complying to the order of the PDRCI. To prove that the developer is ready to follow, they had filed a Judicial Confirmation before the Regional Trial of Baguio ratify the decision of the arbitration court. It only shows that the developer has sincerity, unlike Casanova who doesn’t know how to respect the rights of others.

            Aside from harassing CJHDevCo, the BCDA President was also threaten the third parties. If we remember, he stated that they don’t have obligation to the locators and sub-leases because they are paying their rental to the developer and not to the government. Now, the BCDA demanded to them that they should all give copies all of their documents to the agency. If we will not comply, Casanova said that they will not acknowledge them. In other words, the locators and sub-leases should also vacate the camp. Well, this is just a dirty tactic of Casanova to get the assets of those people that they invested inside Camp John Hay. It seems that Casanova doesn’t know what’s written in the law. The third parties should not be involved if a case is under arbitration court.

            Instead to boost the tourism industry in Baguio City, Casanova is sabotaging it through his bad leadership. Eversince, CJHDevCo, as being the developer of the camp; they have never stop from thinking how they improve the camp. As a matter of fact, they had built a lot of infrastructures inside the camp including the two world class hotels. As an observer what’s going on in Camp John Hay, I can say that Casanova is the one who deteriorating  not only the projects of the private company; it has also an impact to the government as a whole. After the government convinced the private company to invest in a government project, then later a person like Casanova will  start a great trouble against them.

            Of course, Casanova has a reason why he is doing all those negative things. It is possible that he is pursuing the interest of other company which has also an interest in Camp John Hay. His critics are accusing him that he is accepting bribes and living an abundant life. There is also a rumor that the BCDA president is dating with young males. Well, I believed that these are true, not just an allegation. If he is a good government official, why the BCDA doesn’t give any important contribution to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)? According to the law, 50% of their earnings should be allocated to the AFP. The BCDA had already earned billion pesos with their transactions and it is enough to use for the military modernization program. Casanova should undergo in a congressional inquiry as what one congressman said in a press conference. This is really important to castigate and grill him about the anomalous activities that he had been involved. 

The Bullying Tactics of BCDA

            Bases and Conservation Development Authority (BCDA) President announced that they are the true winner with their case against the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo). Because the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI) ordered to CJHDevCo that they should turn over the Camp John Hay on their hands. Yes, in this decision they’ve got the favored of the court. But if we will look at the big picture, it will show that the developer is the true winner here.

            The PDRCI also ordered that the BCDA should pay an amount of 1.4 billion pesos before the CJHDevCo could leave the place. Aside from that, the court also dismissed the claimed of the agency that their opponent has a 3.3 billion pesos debt due to their unpaid rental. The court found out that the BCDA violated their contract with the developer. In the contract, they should build a one stop action center to speed up the progress in Camp John Hay. But despite of the big investment by the developer to the place; they had only developed 4 hectares.The business operation of the CJHDevCo had been interrupted also because they were not giving the permit they need on time.   

            The people of Baguio believed that if the CJHDevCo vacate the place, the future of Camp John Hay will become obscured. There is a possibility that the government could face bankruptcy once they took over the place because the BCDA have no concrete plan how they handle effectively the place. They even don’t thinking about the situation of the buyers, locators and sub-leases in Camp John Hay. The agency stated the tenants in the place are paying rentals directed to the CJHDevCo and not with the government. It means, that the BCDA is not getting any benefits from them. So, is this enough reason to evict them also in the place? But CJHDevCo had promised to the tenants that his group will protect their rights until the issue will be settled.

            Even the PDRCI had released their decision about the case between the BCDA and CJHDevCo, it doesn’t mean that issue is finished already. This is just the beginning of a complicated process. Let us say that the BCDA could provide the 1.4 billion to pay the CJHDevCo. They can’t forcibly evict the developer to vacate Camp John Hay. According to the law, the Regional Trial Court of Baguio should confirm fist the decision of the PDRCI before the order will be implemented. The problem with the BCDA, they are very aggressive with their intention to take over the Camp John Hay. There is a news that Casanova brought an armed group in the area to intimidate the CJHDevCo. But the group of Sobrepena are not afraid of this desperate move of their opponent. They knew that that was a part of Casanova’s bullying tactics.

            Hey, Casanova, if I were you, I will wait the confirmation of the Regional Trial Court of Baguio. If you’re a real gentleman you will not harass your opponent. Instead, you will respect for their rights. It seems that you forgot that the BCDA was built to assist and give 50% percents of its earnings for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). But it seems that you’re not doing your job. Some lawmakers are criticizing you because since the agency built it didn’t contribute to boost the military system in our country. They soldiers are still suffering from the cheap fire arms and other equipments that almost killed them when they are  on the ground or battlefield. Casonava, do you know that some lawmakers want to investigate you for destroying the public partnership program (PPP) of the government and for not giving major contributions to the AFP which is your primary duty aside from bashing the peaceful developer that you considered as enemy.