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CJHDevCo Chairman Robert John Sobrepeña appeals for a 'just resolution' to what he called a humanitarian crisis, citing the displacement of residents and the alleged revocation of rights without due process
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – In the latest chapter of the decades-long Camp John Hay saga, CJH Development Corporation (CJHDevCo) has formally offered to waive its P1.42-billion arbitral award in exchange for the Philippine government’s recognition of the rights of third-party investors — homeowners, condominium buyers, and golf club members — whose properties were affected by the Supreme Court-mandated government takeover of Camp John Hay.
In a letter addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. dated Friday, April 4, CJHDevCo Chairman Robert John Sobrepeña appealed for compassion and a “just resolution” to what he called a humanitarian crisis, citing the displacement of hundreds of residents and the alleged revocation of rights without due process.
“We urgently appeal for your support in recognizing the rights of several thousand unit owners, homeowners, property owners, and golf club members of Camp John Hay in Baguio City,” the letter stated. “This is not just a legal issue, but a matter of justice, compassion, and basic human dignity.”
CJHDevCo’s offer comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s 2024 final ruling that upheld a 2015 arbitral award rescinding its 1996 lease agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and ordering mutual restitution. CJHDevCo vacated the 247-hectare property on January 6 while BCDA was directed to refund P1.42 billion in lease payments.
But with the transition came controversy. CJHDevCo claims BCDA padlocked homes and condominium units “without notice or due process,” affecting long-time residents, including foreign retirees and golf club members who invested in good faith under the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program.
The offer: Waive the money for the people
In what it described as a gesture “purely for the sake of peace,” CJHDevCo said it was willing to relinquish its legal right to collect the P1.42 billion, plus interest, on the condition that the government respects the rights of third-party property owners and investors.
The company cited over 570 affected individuals: 189 owners at The Manor, 208 at The Forest Lodge, 25 country home owners, 56 forest cabin residents, 13 log home owners, 45 estate lot owners, and 38 lot pad owners — plus an estimated 2,500 golf club members.
“These innocent parties placed their trust in the government’s PPP Program,” Sobrepeña wrote. “To disregard their rights now would not only break that promise but also shatter their faith in the system.”
BCDA’s response and the status of the transition
BCDA has not issued a formal response to the April 4 letter as of this writing. However, it has maintained that the Supreme Court ruling is final and executory, and that the agency is committed to both the rule of law and the humane treatment of affected parties.
In a March 18 statement, BCDA said it had already signed more than 100 new residential lease agreements—representing 95% of all residential units in Camp John Hay—within two months of the takeover. Many of these contracts were signed by foreign nationals, including retirees from Korea and New Zealand.
BCDA Chair Atty. Hilario Paredes earlier emphasized that the agency has provided temporary accommodations for displaced residents and has initiated dialogue with the Korean Embassy and affected nationals. “There has never been any threat of deportation,” he stated.
Sobrepeña’s counterclaims
Despite these assurances, Sobrepeña remains critical. In a March 24 interview with One News, he said that while 70 to 80 of the estimated 160 house-and-lot owners had signed with BCDA, none of the 400 condominium owners had. He also claimed that golf club members and condotel investors were left out of any settlement offers.
“The government enticed them to come in. Now that they’re in, their homes are just being taken away,” he said. “It’s a land grab, without due process.”
Sobrepeña also questioned the status of the P1.42 billion refund, saying it was not held in escrow, but in a BCDA-managed savings account.
Possible remedies
In a March 31 opinion column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban reiterated that the Supreme Court’s decision could no longer be reversed. However, he acknowledged the plight of the investors and suggested three possible remedies: appeal to BCDA for equitable treatment, file claims from CJHDevCo’s refund, or pursue legal remedies individually or as a group.
Panganiban explained that while CJHDevCo had sold units based on 50-year lease assumptions, its contract with BCDA was only for 25 years. The arbitral award effectively reset the arrangement, restoring the parties to their pre-contractual state.
What’s next?
CJHDevCo’s offer remains valid for 30 days from the date of the letter. Whether the Office of the President will respond remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, affected residents remain caught between legal complexities and uncertain futures. Foreign investor Aaron Goodman, who resides in a Forest Cabin with his family, earlier told this writer, “There is never a wrong time to do the right thing. The time is up.” – Rappler.com
