Amid its long-standing legal battle with Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCO), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) expressed confidence that it will emerge the victor, with the state agency citing CJHDevCo’s string of criminal indictments and dismissed cases relating to its P3 billion debt to the government.
Speaking at a recent media forum, BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said that “the wheels of justice are turning, and it is only a matter of time before CJHDevCo chairman Robert John Sobrepeña and his cohorts are convicted of their crimes. We eagerly await their trial and conviction.”
Malversation, perjury trials await CJHDevCo execs
Sobrepeña, along with Alfredo R. Yniguez III and two others, has been charged with malversation by the Department of Justice for refusing to return 26 BCDA-owned hotel units located in Camp John Hay Manor and Camp John Hay Suites, Baguio City while continuing to earn from these units. Sobrepeña pleaded not guilty.
Most recently, CJHDevCo’s lawyer and spokesperson, Atty. Manuel Ubarra Jr., was charged by the DOJ with perjury before the Municipal Trial Court of Quezon City for knowingly making false accusations against the Directors of the BCDA before the Office of the Ombudsman.
In its resolution, the DOJ wrote that “respondent Ubarra is a lawyer. It needs no reiteration that the ethical standards applicable to a member of the bar, who thereby automatically becomes a court officer, must necessarily be one higher than that of the market place.”
“It is quite ironic that the person who speaks the most on behalf of CJHDevCo, one who also happens to be a lawyer, is now set to face trial for perjury. It is a glaring indicator of which party is morally upright, and which one is erring, in this whole dispute,” Casanova said.
‘Diversion tactics’
Casanova also pointed out that while the BCDA’s cases against CJHDevCo officials are making progress and headed for trial, CJHDevCo’s own cases against the BCDA have been dismissed. Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the libel case filed by William Russell L. Sobrepeña, older brother of Robert John Sobrepeña, against officials of the BCDA for lack of probable cause.
“It is a pity that Mr. Sobrepeña has resorted to asking his older brother to file yet another libel case against the BCDA. It is a clear sign of desperation on their part,” Casanova remarked.
The elder Sobrepeña’s case against the BCDA is just the latest from CJHDevCo that have been junked by the courts. Previously, libel charges filed by CJHDevCo against BCDA officials were dismissed, while a perjury charge against Casanova was also junked.
“Clearly, their repeated attempts to file the same baseless charges are merely diversion tactics that aim to distract the public from the real issue—that CJHDevCo owes billions of pesos to the government,” Casanova said.
People of Baguio losing out because of CJHDevCo’
The BCDA head explained that the agency’s case against CJHDevCo, as well as CJHDevCo’s own “incurable breaches,” can have far-reaching impact on Baguio as well as the rest of the country.
Casanova added that “for the people of Baguio City, this case is not just a legal battle between corporations; it has an impact on Baguio’s residents and communities, as well as the city’s visitors and locators. CJHDevCo owes P3 billion to the government, and from this amount, P750 million belongs to the city and its people.”
“This is a huge and game-changing amount which can be used to fund infrastructure, develop livelihood and medical programs, improve Baguio’s tourist sites, and other initiatives,” Casanova remarked. “The people of Baguio are losing out because of CJHDevCo’s refusal to pay the government. That is why we are very happy that their key officials are now about to face trial. And soon, we hope to be able to reclaim their debt.”
‘We will abide by arbitration’
As the cases against Sobrepeña and other CJHDeVCo officials head to the courts for trial, the arbitration between the BCDA and CJHDevCo is likewise proceeding, which Casanova assured that the agency will abide by. “We are committed to respecting the arbitration process, and we have prepared all our documents and evidence,” Casanova said. The arbitration is expected to reach a resolution by early 2014.
Aside from the malversation and perjury charges, the BCDA had also previously charged CJHDevCo with estafa for the “double sale” of a property in Camp John Hay, and with professional squatting for the building of illegal structures within Camp John Hay.
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