Trial of suspects in UP farm attack starts

BAY, Laguna, Philippines – The three members of the Greenpeace group tagged in the destruction of an eggplant research farm at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna will face trial today for charges of malicious mischief.

Daniel Ocampo, Aileen Camille Dimatatac, and Benjoan May Tolosa will be tried at the sala of Judge Regina Balmores-Laxa in this town.

The three were among the 11 persons indicted for allegedly destroying the UPLB’s Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant experimental farm here in February 2011.

The UPLB’s Institute of Plant Breeding estimated the damage to property at P25 million.

Ocampo, Dimatatac, and Tolosa had earlier been ordered to appear in court on Oct. 14, but they did not show up. Their failure to appear at the hearing prompted Laxa to issue a warrant for their arrests.

The eight other accused are Adrian Dagondon, Raymond Berongay, Don Florentino, Shivani  Shah, Ali Abbas, Ricky Morales, Eyesha Endar, and Rhoda Arnoda.

Laxa issued in June 2011 a warrant for the arrest of the 11 accused but only Ocampo, Dimatatac, and Tolosa posted bail. The others have yet to be arrested.