Court of Appeals upholds BCDA’s claim over Camp John Hay

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) secured another legal victory affirming its rights and mandate over Camp John Hay in Baguio City, after the Court of Appeals (CA) dismissed an appeal filed by the property’s claimants.

In an 18-page decision dated 20 April 2025, the CA rejected the Petition for Prohibition filed by Casiano et al., upholding BCDA’s authority to reclaim a Forest Lodge unit within Camp John Hay.

The ruling emphasized that the Supreme Court’s 3 April 2024 decision in G.R. Nos. 219421 and 241772 conclusively resolved the dispute, affirming BCDA’s ownership of the property and defining the rights and obligations of the claimants.

“In sum, having complied with the four requisites needed for the doctrine of res judicata to operate, there is without doubt that the Supreme Court's Decision… finally determined the question on the return of the entirety of the disputed property to respondent BCDA,” the ruling stated.

The Court further underscored that under Rule 39, Section 47 of the Revised Rules of Court, a final judgment on a specific property is binding on the parties and their successors, preventing multiple lawsuits on the same matter. The ruling also cited the prohibition against forum shopping as a key legal principle upheld by the decision.

BCDA Chairperson Atty. Larry Paredes welcomed the ruling, saying, “This legal clarity further strengthens BCDA’s position as it advances long-term development plans aimed at unlocking new opportunities for eco-tourism, business, and inclusive growth in the region.”

Paredes added that the favorable ruling “marks a critical step forward in BCDA’s efforts to transform Camp John Hay into a vibrant public asset benefiting Baguio and neighboring communities.”

He also hailed the Court’s decision as “another decisive victory for the rule of law and the Filipino people.”