“It’s pure harassment.” This was how the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) described the latest criminal suit filed against its president and chief operating officer, lawyer Arnel Casanova, by the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo).
The CJHDevCo last July 19 filed libel suit against Casanova for allegedly maligning the reputation of Robert John Sobrepeña, the chairman of CJH Dev’t Co., in several news articles. BCDA and the CJH Dev’t Co. have been at odds since May after the first ordered the eviction of CJH Dev’t Co. from Camp John Hay for non-compliance to varous agreements.
The chairman’s lawyer, Frank Chavez, said Casanova repeatedly used the word “Sobrepena” instead of Sobrepeña in many write ups, thus maligning the reputation of the 57-year-old businessman because it intends to impute that his client has committed estafa.
Chavez also accused Casanova of having a policy that runs contrary to President Aquino’s aim of developing a good rapport between the government and the private sector. “We haven’t read the complaint that’s why we cannot comment any further.
“But the way I see it, it’s a pure harassment,” Lani Barlongay-Macasaet, BCDA public affairs manager, told The Daily Tribune. This paper tried to get the side of Casanova but he didn’t response to numerous text inquiries.
Macasaet said being a lawyer, her boss cannot just make a comment unless he reads the complaint which is said to be 31 pages, according to news reports. It was the fifth suit hurled against Casanova. Two of the five are libel. The BCDA boss is also facing perjury, graft and usurpation of authority charges from various parties.
Asked if Macasaet also thinks that Casanova will consider the latest suit gainst him as harassment, she said: “That is usually Casanova’s statement regarding the cases filed against BCDA officials.” Macasaet said her boss would respond to queries once he reads the entire complaint.
Relationships between BCDA and CJHDevCo have been on the rocks for months now because of disagreement over the leasing terms of the sprawling Camp John Hay in Baguio City. Two weeks ago, CJHDevCo offered to pay BCDA P8.5 billion.
However, Casanova said the offer was not a payment but “just a proposal to restructure the lease agreement which would write off P3 billion arrears, change the lease to joint venture and to extend the agreement for another 40 years ending in 2061.”