BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Camp John Hay guests and employees were stranded outside this popular leisure estate on Monday morning due to a three-hour lockdown as court sheriffs enforced the government takeover of the former American facility.
Some of the guests said they had stepped out for a jog or for breakfast elsewhere in the summer capital and were shocked when told they would have to wait until the end of a “security training exercise.”
All of Camp John Hay’s access roads were barricaded as early as 8 a.m., although one employee said he was blocked from entering as early as 7 a.m. The barricades were removed at 10:14 a.m.
READ: BCDA: John Hay takeover has begun
New doors of opportunity
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which administers all former American bases, said in a news release that it had officially recovered three properties of Camp John Hay Leisure Inc.—the Manor, the Forest Lodge and the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center. It has also taken control of Camp John Hay Golf Course and Commander’s Cottage which hosts a museum.
The takeover supposedly began in December when BCDA signed a new 25-year contract with Le Monet Hotel, BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said in a Dec. 17 interview with reporters. He was sighted at John Hay on Monday, apparently leading the operation.
“As we open new doors of opportunity, more businesses may reinvest their capital in Camp John Hay and build upon the workforce, all while ensuring that the environmental and cultural integrity of the area are preserved and protected,” Bingcang said in a press statement.
BCDA did not respond when asked if it had also taken over residential homes, villas, and log homes inside the 247-hectare special economic zone.
The sheriffs served several vacate notices issued in 2015 by the Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) that were reinstated by the Supreme Court en banc in an April 3, 2024 ruling.
SC’s decision reapplied a 2015 arbitral decision that voided the development contract over John Hay, ordered the return of the developer’s P1.42 billion expenses, and allowed the government to regain control of all commercial properties.
The arbiter’s decision supposedly resolved a longstanding contractual dispute between BCDA and the developer, Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevco), owned by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña.
“We were asking for another writ of execution and for prior notice from the sheriffs as part of due process, and they just showed us the 2015 writ,” said CJH Leisure legal counsel Federico Mandapat Jr.
CJH Leisure has maintained that it operates independently from CJHDevco. Mandapat said the sheriffs directed the managers of the Manor and Forest Lodge to leave, along with their close-in staff, but had no orders regarding hotel employees. He said they were informed that interim management teams would oversee hotel operations.
Court order
BCDA also referred to a Jan. 3 order from Baguio RTC Branch 6, which had “upheld the SC ruling and junked CJH DevCo’s fresh attempt to prevent the full return of the Camp John Hay property.”
“The [RTC] order also directs its sheriffs to immediately and fully implement its reinstated writ of execution and notice to vacate, so the property can be returned to the BCDA… This court order means all land and improvements in the property, whether directly held by CJHDevco, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, or occupied or held by other individuals or parties claiming rights under them, must be turned over to the BCDA immediately,” the BCDA said.
The Baguio court evictions were part of a transition process in 2015 that enforced the arbitral decision of a Philippine Dispute Resolution Center tribunal. But a so-called third party of sub-lessors — golf-share owners, residents of villas, and people who contracted long-term use of hotel rooms — challenged anew.
Their lawsuit had been junked in April by the SC, which issued its final judgment last month.
Although a large signboard outside the John Hay main gate spells out this order, no personnel explained it properly to many of the stranded guests.
“All I wanted was a round of golf,” an American visitor told the concierge at The Manor, ranting that guests should not suffer “this kind of politics.”