Court orders arrest of 3 Greenpeace members: For ‘attack’ on UPLB research farm

BAY, Laguna, Philippines – A lower court in this province has ordered the arrest of the three members of the activist group Greenpeace who were tagged in the destruction of a government eggplant research farm in Los Baños in 2011.

Judge Regina Balmores-Laxa of the Municipal Trial Court –Fourth Judicial Region issued a warrant for the arrest of Daniel Ocampo, Benjean May Tolosa, and Aileen Camille Dimatatac for failing to appear in the hearing of the case last Oct. 14.

The three, along with eight others, are facing charges of malicious mischief for allegedly destroying the experimental farm of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

The eight others were Adrian Dagondon, Reymond Berongay, Don Florentino, Shivani Shah, Ali Abbas, Ricky Morales, Eyesha Endar, and Rhoda Arnoda.

In June 10, 2011, Laxa issued a warrant for the arrest of the 11 accused but only Ocampo, Dimatatac, and Tolosa posted bail for their provisional liberty. The eight others remain at large.

Gregorio Tanaka Viterbo Jr., counsel for the acused, had asked the court to cancel and reset the hearing on Oct. 14, which was denied due to the opposition of private prosecutor Felimon Nolasco.

No one among the accused attended the hearing last Oct. 14.

The case stemmed from information filed by the Provincial Prosecutors’ Office in Calamba City, which found probable cause on the case.

The respondents had filed a petition for review of the charges, but which was dismissed by the DOJ.

Records show that in Feb. 17, 2011, the respondents allegedly forced their way into UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding experimental farm and pulled out the Bt eggplant causing damage estimated at about P25 million to the university.