Probe sought over rampant land speculation in Camp John Hay

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Nov 21): Probe sought over rampant land speculation in Camp John Hay

Arnel Paciano Casanova, Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief executive officer, recently sought an investigation into the alleged rampant land speculation and selling of questionable titles in lots 16 and 17 beside the Voice of America compound inside Camp John Hay. Casanova said the areas being subjected to investigation are Lot 16-B measuring 3.182 hectares and Lot 17 spanning 26.65 hectares. These areas, he said, are alleged slowly being encroached in by professional squatters. This lot was supposedly allocated by the BCDA and its estate manager John Hay Management Corporation spanning an approximately 30 hectares to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in support of the Philippine Military Academy for the construction of the AFP Learning Center. He said both parties recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement to seal their partnership for the AFP Learning Center. He also added their initial investigation have already revealed rampant land titling by unscrupulous individuals who want to profit from the government property. The BCDA plans to take over the area and make necessary legal measures to eject alleged squatters in Lots 16 and 17, which fall inside the Camp John Hay reservation. Casanova said some of these land speculators have the lots titled using an ancestral land claim that is why they have formed a Technical Working Group with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to resolve these issues. “We are currently investigating these claims and closely cooperating with the NCIP,” he added.....

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2012/11/21/probe-sought-over-rampant-land-speculation-camp-john-hay-254488