BIZ BUZZ: More legal battles rock Camp John Hay
MANILA, Philippines — Camp John Hay in Baguio City remains a veritable hotspot of tense legal battles, once again overshadowing its usual serene mountain charm.
At least six lawsuits have been filed by Korean nationals against Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo), seeking compensation over sublease deals that had been voided after the company’s original lease with the government was nullified.
All six civil complaints were filed between June 9 and 10 before the Regional Trial Court of Baguio City.
The plaintiffs are demanding damages and the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment or garnishment related to their lease agreements with CJHDevCo at Forest Lodge within Camp John Hay.
READ: MVP Group inks 25-year Camp John Hay lease, BCDA’s first
Bottom line, the petitioners want serious damages and a court order to freeze CJHDevCo’s assets tied to those disputed sublease deals at Forest Lodge.
They want to make sure the company can’t make a move on those properties until the court settles the score.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which oversees the property, acknowledged the legal actions and expressed its commitment to a lawful, transparent and compassionate transition for all stakeholders involved.
The BCDA is coordinating with relevant government agencies to assist affected parties, including foreign retirees, by providing translation support and one-on-one consultations to clarify their options for mutually beneficial and legally compliant lease arrangements.
“We take the concerns raised by affected members of the Korean community seriously,” BCDA said in a statement.
“Valid lease agreements will be honored, provided they comply with Philippine laws and the final and executory decision of the Supreme Court.”
As this legal dispute unfolds, all eyes remain on Camp John Hay, a once peaceful mountain retreat which is now the stage for high-stakes property conflicts. —Alden M. Monzon
Filipino Homes’ ticket to Dubai
Many of us are always itching for that travel bug, and maybe Dubai may be your next destination—for good, for additional income, or both.
Real estate broker Filipino Homes beat some of us to getting that ticket to the Middle East.
Recently, Filipino Homes founder and CEO Anthony Gerard Leuterio officially got his license to be a property broker in Dubai, thus opening the door for his kababayan to own a home in the United Arab Emirates.
The license allows Filipino Homes’ international arm, FHI Global Properties, to legally and actively engage in property transactions in Dubai, where thousands of Filipinos have been making a living for years.
“Now that I am a licensed broker in Dubai, we are opening up legitimate, professional opportunities for cross-selling,” Leuterio said in a statement. “Brokers in the Philippines can now market and sell Dubai properties in partnership with us.”
Here’s your chance for an investment that’s nearly 7,000 kilometers away from Manila. Maybe you already have that Golden Visa, too? —Meg J. Adonis
