OPINION: Whose is True?

           

Alni Emphasis

            The trial of the criminal case, charging 11 Filipino members of Greenpeace, who destroyed an eggplant research farm of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in 2011, will resume this Monday, Oct. 11. However, the unresolved battle of knowing “whose claim is right?” between Greenpeace and the Filipino farmers remain questionable.

            Two weeks ago, Court of Appeals’ decision to permanently stop UPLB scientists from pursuing field trials for Bt talong (genetically modified eggplant - a variety resistant to fruit and stem borer and the most destructive pest attacking eggplant) was applied. In fact, CA issued a “writ of kalikasan” against Bt talong, citing it was “justified and warranted.” 

            But how did the CA come to this decision? Did Greenpeace prove the GMO unsafe for human consumption and for the environment?  

            It was said that the CA junked the appeal of our scientists because Filipino Scientists “failed to prove that Bt talong is safe for human consumption and for the environment.”

            However, government agencies like the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI); the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB); and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) argued that “the ‘Bt talong’ was still in the field trial stage”. They have also informed the Appellate Court that the tests were done in a controlled environment. 

            Though speculations arise about its harmful health effects to the public, New FDA head Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go clarified it to the public, through media interviews, that “there has never been a single case anywhere in the world where a person was adversely affected by biotech food”.

            Aside from that, they have also opted in GMO’s for they’ve seen the inefficiency of our foods. We have lots of crops affected by pests and diseases which are already enough to feed a big portion our population.

            Isn’t this enough proof to safely say and believe the claim of the scientists?

            If so, why did CA permanently stop them, when aside from the facts presented, they have also the constitutional right of academic freedom when they had their experiments? What proof did Greenpeace show for CA to believe them then?

            Nonetheless, quoting from Pres. Aquino’s favorite phrase, “no matter what the doubts and questions are on the mind of Filipinos, the CA and its decision must be respected. If the wisdom of the decision is to be questioned, we believe it must be done so in the right venue. In this case if it ever reaches the highest court of the land, it is the Supreme Court (SC).”

            All Filipinos deserve the best food to eat—weather it’s raised through traditional farming or by using GMOs. But even more, we deserve to know the truth and we entrust this “search for truth” to our judicial system.

            Whose claim is better? Who between them says the truth?