State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority on Thursday challenged CJH Development Corp. led by businessman Robert John Sobrepeña to waive the confidentiality clause on the arbitration on Camp John Hay to clarify the issue.
BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano Casanova said in a statement the arbitration rules prohibited the two parties from releasing the decision.
“However, the decision could be made public if both parties agree to waive the confidentiality. We are calling on CJHDevCo waive it and not hide behind the cloak of confidentiality to avoid confusion and give the stakeholders full access to information,” he said.
The arbitration committee came out with a decision on Camp John Hay on Feb. 11, rescinding the lease agreement between BCDA and CJH Development Corp.
The arbitration committee’s order for CJHDevCo to vacate the entire Camp John Hay was unanimous.
The tribunal, however, was divided on a decision if the government should pay CJHDevCo P1.4 billion. BCDA said there was a “strong dissenting opinion” that CJHDevCo should pay the government P2.4 billion.
BCDA also called on investors at Camp John Hay to coordinate with them for an orderly transition.
The agency said with the original lease rescinded, whatever agreement the buyers of CJHDevCo entered into was no longer applicable because their subleases were terminated with the principal lease.
“We are not privy to the contracts that CJHDevCo entered into and we cannot be bound by it. What if these contracts were fraudulent. We enjoin Sobrepena to make a full accounting of Camp John Hay, all buildings and facilities, which is now government property,” Casanova said.