The scientific and academic community expressed indignation at the early morning raid staged by Greenpeace activists at a field trial site for Bacillus thuringiensis in Bay, Laguna on Thursday.
The National Academy of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines Los Baños said the raid violated national biosafety rules and was an affront to academic freedom in the state-run university.UPLB Chancellor Luis Rey I. Velasco vowed to deal with the culprits, some of them identified as Indian nationals.
“It is a sad day for Philippine science. Misinformed, misguided people are denying our poor farmers and consumers the benefits of good science,” said former UP president Emil Q. Javier, who also heads the NAST
Dr. Candida Adalla, director of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office also condemned the attack. She served as dean of the UP College of Agriculture from 2000 to 2007. Calling the attack as akin to “premeditated murder,” the scientists revealed that Greenpeace even bragged that the move was meant to “decontaminate” the trial site.
At least six vehicles arrived at the Bt eggplant trial site of the UPLB around 6:30 a.m.
Approximately 20 people, headed by Daniel Ocampo of Greenpeace, forced their way to the site by destroying the steel gate with a bolt cutter.
Several mediamen came with the anti-biotech group to document the destruction of the ongoing experiment.
“The perpetrators wore protective masks and overalls to reinforce misinformation on the alleged safety issues of the GM crop, and possibly to hide their identities. Indian nationals wearing Greenpeace shirts were with the anti-biotech group during the illegal activity,” witnesses said.
The raiders were apprehended by the University Police Force and were to be charged for their criminal acts, Velasco said.
