The security agency tasked to protect government property in Camp John Hay tagged as “outrageous, alarmist and totally baseless” the statement of the security agency of the Sobrepena-led Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevco).
Catalina Security Agency said CJHDevco’s Warbird Security and Investigation Agency were peddling lies when it said that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) gave Catalina a “shoot to kill” order.
Placido Urbanes III, president of Catalina Security Agency categorically stated that “there was no such ‘shoot to kill’ order from the BCDA,” adding that CJHDevco has desperately resorted to lies just to further their own agenda.
“We were hired by the government to help protect personnel, property and facilities in Camp John Hay,” Urbanes said.
The Catalina chief pointed out: “In fact, it is CJHDevco and its security agency that are clearly violating regulations. They have violated the anti-squatting law when they put up illegal structures on BCDA’s property.”
Catalina deploys security personnel to protect 625.4 hectares of government property in Camp John Hay, including the 301.9-hectare John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ) and the 323.5-hectares forest reservation area.
“We will take the necessary legal steps to make sure those who issued the irresponsible statement are made accountable for the deception they have been spreading,” Urbanes stated.
CJHDevco has started issuing alarmist statements after BCDA terminated the contract with CJHDevco. BCDA has also ordered CJHDevco to vacate John Hay and pay its outstanding obligations amounting to P3.077 billion.
The termination notice states that CJHDevco has material and incurable breaches, including failure and refusal to pay the annual rent due to government for many years; failure to open an escrow account and deposit 50% of the Common Usage Services Assessment; fraudulent double-sale of a property given as payment to BCDA; violation of fire and safety laws in the Camp John Hay Suites; unlawful squatting of CJHDevco’s security agency; subcontracting of the water operations and distribution without BCDA’s consent; violations on safety, health and environmental regulations; and CJHDevco’s gross misrepresentation of its financial standing.
Escalderon’s letter to Urbanes informed the latter of the writ of preliminary injunction issued by Judge Cleto Villacorta III while conveniently ignoring the fact that the Baguio Regional Trial Court required CJHDevco to post a P736 million bond for the injunction to take effect.
Earlier statements by observers say that CJHDevco’s posting of the bond betray the fact that CJHDevco has money to pay for its obligations to government, that has now ballooned to more than P3 billion.