11 activists charged for raiding UPLB farm

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna, Philippines – Eleven activists, including members of environmental group Greenpeace, have been charged in court for raiding a research farm of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and destroying experimental plants there last February.

Damage to the research facilities and the genetically modified (GM) or Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplants planted there was placed at P25 million.

A warrant of arrest issued by Judge Regina Balmores-Laxa of the Municipal Trial Court-4th Judicial Region in Bay, Laguna, identified the respondents as Daniel Ocampo, Aileen Dimatatao, Adrian Dagondon, Benjean May Tolosa, Raymond Berongay, Don Florentino, Shivani Shah, Ali Abbas, Ricky Morales, Eyesha Endar, and Rhoda Arnoda.

The respondents were charged with malicious mischief based of the information sheet filed by second assistant prosecutor Florante Gonzales of the provincial prosecutor’s office.

In a resolution, Gonzales, together with Laguna provincial prosecutor George Dee and assistant provincial prosecutor (designate) Miguel Noel Ocampo, said there was probable cause against the respondents.

The case arose when the respondents allegedly forcibly entered the BT eggplant research farm of the UPLB-Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) in Bay town last Feb. 17.

The respondents allegedly entered the fenced “off-limits” area by destroying the gate with a bolt cutter and uprooted the Bt eggplants there.

Dr. Lourdes Taylo, representing UPLB-IPB, filed the complaint.