BAGUIO INJUNCTION AGAINST BCDA STAYS
August 23, 2012 Leave a comment
Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJH DevCo) has filed an injunction bond amounting to P736,328,465.50 with the Regional Trial Court Branch 6 of Baguio City. This was in fulfillment of the bond requirement attached to the Writ of Preliminary Injunction that the RTC issued against the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) last April.
Judge Cleto Villacorta III of the Baguio RTC granted CJH DevCo a writ of preliminary injunction last April 27 to prevent BCDA from its attempted forcible ousting of CJHDevco from the 247-hectare former American rest and recreation base that it had leased to the private developer. “With my findings of a clear and legal right against a unilateral takeover and of grave and irreparable injury arising from such an improvident act at this time, I am compelled to grant the application for a writ of preliminary injunction,” the ruling said. The restraining order also prohibits BCDA from awarding the disputed leased property to a new entity.
The bond was issued by surety Liberty Insurance Corp., the only bonding company now with Supreme Court Certification of Accreditation and Authority. The injunction bond was filed with the RTC Branch 6 on Thursday August 23 before Judge Cecilia Archog.
Mr. Al Yñiguez, Executive Vice President of CJH DevCo said that the filing of the bond was done to show CJH DevCo’s good faith to the court. “Our corporation is a firm believer in the rule of law. We have survived many administrations because we adhere to this principle. We believe that ultimately, the government and the courts will see that CJH DevCo has complied with all requirements due. The fact that BCDA has already been ordered by the court to submit to arbitration is proof of this,” Yñiguez said.
In January, CJH DevCo filed an arbitration case before the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center (PDRCI), as required by its contract, due to BCDA’s constant and continuous violations of their contract, such as its failure to create a One Stop Action Center (OSAC) for the processing of permits for CJH DevCo. However, instead of complying with the arbitration clause, BCDA refused to submit itself to the PDRCI and instead engaged in a costly PR war that included numerous full page advertisements directed against CJH Devco. This prompted CJHDEVCO to file a Petition before the Baguio court to compel BCDA to submit to arbitration. The Baguio RTC in July ruled in favor of CJH DevCo, compelling BCDA to submit to the arbitration process. BCDA has still not complied.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has also urged BCDA to submit to arbitration, in order for developments in Camp John Hay to continue. “Instead of arbitrarily pushing for the collection of fees, BCDA must submit itself to arbitration with CJH Devco at the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, as stipulated in their contract,” Domogan said in an earlier statement. Baguio City is entitled to 25% of the lease rentals that CJH DevCo pays to BCDA for the development of Camp John Hay. Baguio City has been deprived of lease rentals due to the refusal of BCDA to arbitrate.