BCDA says suits won’t stop it from collecting debts
Philippine Daily InquirerCITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it will pursue with even more vigor its efforts to collect more than P3 billion in rental arrears of the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevco), adding that the firm “cannot hide behind a wall of suits.”
BCDA issued the statement following a graft case filed by CJHDevco against BCDA officials.
“In light of the ardent and determined pursuit of BCDA to enforce the government’s rights over Camp John Hay, BCDA questions the motive, timing, and frequency by which numerous cases are being filed against its board of directors,” the statement quoted BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova as saying.
Felicito Payumo, BCDA chair, said in a separate statement that BCDA only fulfilled its duty by informing the public about a debt feud over Camp John Hay.
CJHDevco has also sued BCDA for libel for a series of advertisements and news reports asking the public to be wary of dealing with the firm.
In a statement issued from the United States, Payumo said: “The declarations [of facts posted in the advertisements in April] cannot but be construed as simple statements of fact motivated purely by BCDA’s desire to protect the interests of the unit owners and the public in general.”
“I believe we have clearly taken the common position of ‘pay up or ship out,’” Casanova said in the BCDA statement.
“No amount of diversionary or dilatory tactics could throw us off the track,” he said.
“But we are not giving up in saving the John Hay project as we continue to explore all legal options to attain a logical and justifiable solution to this problem,” the BCDA statement said.
In his statement, Payumo said BCDA directors “do not benefit personally from the actions they take.”
BCDA last May 15 decided to terminate the CJHDevco lease and issued a notice of eviction to the company on May 16. With reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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