CJH Korean homeowners lament ‘unfair’ treatment

Korean homeowners inside Camp John Hay have aired an appeal to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that they should be given consideration and not just be evicted without due process as they have acquired units within CJH in good faith.

In a meeting with members of the Baguio media on Saturday, Jongeon Lee of the Baguio Korean Community and one of the Korean retirees who owns units inside Forest Lodge claimed that their water supply and electricity have been cut off when the BCDA took over the management of CJH following the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on the matter.

He said he and his fellow Koreans can’t understand how a government can do such a thing without informing them as they said, they only occupy the units they have acquired their property from the Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDevCo).

Uncomfortable situation

According to them, they are in an uncomfortable situation, suffering the consequences of a legal battle between the BCDA and the CJHDevCo.

The Korean community leader said they came to the Philippines and have made Baguio their home, expecting to stay until 2046 based on their agreement with CJHDevCo.

He said they are also human and they deserve to be treated as such; he also appealed for assistance from the CJHDevCo.

Evette Dela Cruz, a Filipino unit owner, said that they are not super rich and most of them are retirees who bought units expecting that it would be their home, stressing that they invested their hard-earned money to buy units inside the CJH.

She said they have been barred from entering their units as they are already locked.

Barred from entry

One other Korean unit owner, Heewoong Ahn, said he and the other Korean homeowners, especially the retirees, are worried about where to go now that they have been barred from entering their homes.

He said they have no choice as they will have to return to Korea and live with their children and they do not know where to bring their things.

There are about 300 homeowners, 40 of which are Korean retirees.

Philippine Retirees Association-Cordillera head Eric Pati said they are willing to give necessary assistance to foreign retirees who own units in the camp within the bounds of their functions.

He said that it is unfortunate that what has happened to foreign retirees in CJH have put the Philippines in a bad light.