Exec in Camp John Hay malversation raps attempts to flee Phl

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The  attempt of the chief executive officer of the private developer of the Camp John Hay to flee the country  on Sunday following a malversation case against him was foiled.

John Sobrepeña was asked to disembark a Philippine Airlines flight bound for the United States prior to take off.

The state-run Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) earlier sought a hold departure order  against Sobrepeña.

“He was allowed past immigration, but was later shown by security cameras returning to Immigration and exiting the premises after he was evicted from the airplane,” the BDCA said in a statement.

Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said Sobrepeña's attempt to slip out of the country "speaks volumes about his involvement in the Camp John Hay malversation case."

"(It is) a sign of bad faith and indicative of guilt" Casanova said, noting that the CJHDevCo called a press conference in Baguio City on Friday, the day before Sobrepeña's attempted flight and vowed to fight the malversation raps.

"First he declares that he will fight [the charges], and then he tries to run the very next day, before the case can even be raffled and without having been arraigned? He is clearly a flight risk, trying to delay the court process. This is a textbook display of obstruction of justice," Casanova said.

Manuel Ubarra Jr., spokesman and CJHDevCo vice president for litigation,  however said they do not know of any hold departure order against Sobrepeña because the case has yet to be raffled.

The CJHDevCo official vowed their officials will face all charges against them in court. - Artemio A. Dumlao