BCDA’s betrayal of public trust: Property owners at Camp John Hay demand justice
Property owners at Camp John Hay are calling for justice as the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) continues its illegal takeover of privately owned units under a 50-year lease agreement that the government itself approved.
BCDA, which oversees former military bases for economic development, now denies the legitimacy of the 50-year lease it required from the start, falsely claiming it only recognized 25-year leases. This sudden reversal has left hundreds of property owners—Filipino retirees, local business owners, and foreign investors—facing eviction from homes and businesses they purchased in good faith.
This blatant violation of contract law and property rights raises serious concerns about the Philippine government’s ability to honor agreements with private investors.
BCDA’s Denial of the 50-Year Lease is False
Documents, board minutes, and government agreements confirm that BCDA itself structured the 50-year lease from the beginning. The 1996 Original Lease Agreement explicitly stated that CJHDevCo held a 25-year lease with an exclusive right to renew for another 25 years—without BCDA’s consent—extending it to 2046 .
BCDA never questioned these terms in previous legal proceedings and even accepted rental payments in the form of 50-year leasehold units, which BCDA itself still owns .
Despite this, BCDA now falsely claims it only recognized 25-year leases and is demanding additional payments from owners who already paid in full . Worse, BCDA is threatening eviction unless these owners pay again for properties they legally own .
“BCDA structured, approved, and benefited from the 50-year lease model. Their current denial is nothing more than a calculated attempt to seize properties without just compensation.”
BCDA’s Opportunistic Land Grab and Investor Betrayal
BCDA’s latest actions set a dangerous precedent—if a government agency can erase contracts, ignore lease agreements, and seize private property, then no investment in the Philippines is safe.
- BCDA was directly involved in property sales under the 50-year lease model.
- BCDA board representatives attended meetings where 50-year leases were approved.
- BCDA itself accepted and benefited from properties with 50-year lease terms.
For nearly three decades, BCDA encouraged Filipinos and foreigners to invest in Camp John Hay under its own approved terms. But now, it conveniently denies those agreements to justify a hostile takeover of homes, hotels, and businesses .
“This is not just an attack on developers—it’s an attack on all investors who followed the rules. If BCDA gets away with this, what’s stopping the government from nullifying other PPP agreements?”
The Real Motive: Coercion and Financial Extortion
BCDA’s takeover is not about clarifying lease agreements—it’s about money and power.
- BCDA is coercing property owners into surrendering their rights or paying additional unjustified fees.
- BCDA is illegally operating hotels, golf courses, and facilities built with private funds.
- BCDA contributed nothing to these developments yet now claims ownership—without paying a single centavo.
Even informal settlers receive relocation and compensation when evicted—why are legal property owners at Camp John Hay being treated worse?
BCDA’s False Public Relations Spin
BCDA claims that its seizure of private properties is a “win for the Filipino people”, when in reality, it is a massive violation of investor rights and a threat to future PPP projects .
BCDA is already inviting new developers to bid for the same properties it confiscated from rightful owners . This isn’t governance—this is corruption disguised as progress.
“BCDA is selling properties they stole from their rightful owners. This is not a victory—it’s economic theft at the highest level.”
A Call for Justice: Camp John Hay Property Owners Demand Action
Property owners at Camp John Hay are calling on the Philippine government, lawmakers, and the international community to take immediate action:
- Hold BCDA accountable for violating legally binding contracts.
- Ensure property owners are protected under the law.
- Prevent BCDA from profiting from illegally seized properties.
If BCDA is allowed to get away with this, it will set a dangerous precedent for government-backed investment projects across the country.
“The government must decide whether it will uphold investor rights or allow BCDA’s unchecked abuse of power to continue.”
Investors Must Be Protected, Not Deceived
This is not just a Camp John Hay issue—this is a national issue. The rule of law is at stake. The Philippine government must honor its commitments to ensure that investors—both local and foreign—are protected, not deceived.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Camp John Hay Development Corporation.
