House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said there is no way any executive official, including the President, can sell, lease, or encumber Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame, both on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) or portions of thereof without Congress approval.

Citing Section 48 of Book I of the Administrative Code of 1987, Lagman said the conveyance of real property of the government should be authorized by law.

Thus, the sale of the two camps housing the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Camp Aguinaldo) and the Philippine National Police (Camp Crame) should be made only if Congress passes an enabling statute or law that would authorize it.

“The Supreme Court, in a number of cases, has ruled that legislative authority is necessary for the Executive to sell, alienate, or encumber erstwhile properties of the public domain after they have been declared as disposable patrimonial properties of the State,” Lagman said in a statement.

He added: “It is not for the President to convey valuable real property of the government on his own sole will or judgment in the absence of an appropriate law.”

According to Lagman this one of the reasons Congress passed Republic Act No. 7227 or the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992.

RA 7227 paved the way for the sale of portions of Fort Bonifacio (headquarters of the Philippine Army) and Villamor Airbase (headquarters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), aside from creating the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Lagman said RA 7227 listed neither Camp Aguinaldo nor Camp Crame among the Metro Manila military camps or properties that may be disposed of by the government.

Meanwhile, a bill has been filed by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, an Aquino ally, blocking any attempt of government to dispose the two camps.

Mandanas filed House Bill No. 3938 seeking to declare the two camps “historical, patriotic and cultural symbol of national dignity.”

The two camps have been the center of the world-renowned 1986 People Power Revolution that put an end to the dictatorial regime of the Marcos government and catapulted Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon C. Aquino, to power.

Earlier, Quezon City Councilor Godofredo Liban called for the immediate relocation of the military and police camps outside the city, saying that their presence threaten the lives and safety of residents.

Liban recalled that many city residents were either killed or wounded in the crossfire of the many coup attempts staged by mutinous soldiers during the term of the elder Aquino.

The city official also said that millions of pesos of private property have likewise been destroyed during bombing attacks aimed at the two camps.

The government said the military and police headquarters should be relocated and that the properties to be vacated should be sold. The proceeds of the sale, estimated at P55.5 billion, could be used to raise funds to help pump-prime the economy.

Officials claimed that while there is indeed a reversion clause in the deed of donation executed by the Ortigas and Co. for the two camps, this provision does not cover the entire areas to be sold.

It was gathered that only 34 hectares, currently valued at about P10 billion, will be returned to the firm if the sale is executed by government. The remainder, totalling 185 hectares, can still raise much-needed cash for government.

Camp Aguinaldo has a total area of 178 hectares while Crame, 41 hectares.

Joker strikes again

As discussions on the planned sale of Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo continue, opposition Senator Joker Arroyo expressed doubts whether the government’s plan would ever benefit the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the country’s soldiers.

Arroyo said it would not do the government any good to sell two of its prime assets as it is reminiscent of the State’s move to sell Fort Bonifacio in the past.

Based on experience, Arroyo said that when Fort Bonifacio, a military camp in Taguig City was sold, it did not benefit the AFP or the soldiers.

“We cannot rush the sale of our realty jewels, Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame. When Fort Bonifacio, a military camp was sold, it did not benefit the AFP or our soldiers,” Arroyo said in a statement.

Arroyo also recalled that after the removal of the US bases, Clark, Subic and other US installations, Republic Act 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act was enacted in 1992.

Under that law, the Conversion Authority would be funded from the sale of Metro Manila camps, such as Fort Bonifacio and Villarmor Airbase.

However, up until now, the AFP is receiving “crumbs” from the sale of military camps and still working on “Jurassic equipment” and the troops living on “squatter housing.”

“We see the spanking Global City in Fort Bonifacio, home previously of the Army and now of big businesses. We see our AFP – with Jurassic equipment and squatter housing for our troops. Clark and Subic are in full business bloom. Our policemen and soldiers, it is reported, do not even have enough bullets for target practice,” Arroyo further noted.

Meanwhile, contrary to reports on government plans to sell Camp Aguinaldo, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Wednesday that a portion of the sprawling Armed Forces property along EDSA will be put on lease only purposely to generate funds that will be used to speed up AFP modernization.

Gazmin also said two technical working groups (TWGs) were created to conduct a thorough study on the plan.

Ben Rosario, Manila Bulletin