BCDA warns public vs transacting with former John Hay operator

State run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) yesterday warned the public that it would no longer honor any payments made to the Sobrepeña-led CJH Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) for advance bookings and reservations made in Camp John Hay.

“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 CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said.

“The BCDA will not honor advance payments made to CJHDevCo, its subsidiaries and affiliates,” he said.

The government agency urged the public to demand a refund from CJHDevco and its affiliates and subsidiaries, as these companies no longer have the authority to operate within the former US military facility, the BCDA said in a statement issued Monday.

The BCDA chief said CJHDevco did not have any legal basis or authority to fulfill its obligation to the customers who might have already paid for their reservations or bookings in Camp John Hay facilities.

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

Casanova stressed that CJHDevCo was no longer authorized to operate within Camp John Hay because there was no longer an existing contract between the BCDA and CJHDevCo and that CJHDevCo had not been issued a permit by the John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC).

It can be recalled that the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 6 issued earlier this year a writ of execution, confirming the final award by the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc. (PDRCI).

The PDRCI decision released in February this year had ordered BCDA to return to CJHDevco P1.4 billion in rentals and had absolved the Sobrepeña-led firm of the supposed P3.3 billion worth of unpaid arrears being claimed by the state agency. In turn, CJHDevco was directed to vacate Camp John Hay and turn it over to the BCDA.