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| Philippines |
| TRO VS GM CORN FIELD TESTS DENIED |
| 24-Apr-2001 Business World |
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The regional trial court of Polomolok, South Cotabato has rejected an application for a temporary restraining order
(TRO) and injunction against local field experiments on genetically modified (GM) corn. Branch 39 Judge Eddie R. Rojas said he denied the petition since the plaintiffs - farmers, local officials and residents - failed to prove that the experiments have caused them serious injury, one of the major grounds for the issuance of an injunction. "The court cannot grant (an) injunction to allay fears and apprehensions of individuals; they must show the court that facts against which they ask protection ... will in all probability be committed to their injury," Mr. Rojas said. "The plaintiffs have not shown, at least tentatively, that they have been irreparably injured by the planting of the genetically modified Bt corn inside (the) Hybrid Seed Production Center of defendant Pioneer Hi Bred Philippines, Inc..." Mr. Rojas said. Pioneer, which carried out limited field experiment on a 500-square meter plot in Barangay Glamang in Polomolok, completed its tests last April 2. Pioneer hopes to conduct more field experiments in several locations after its limited test confirmed the resistance of Bt corn plants to the corn borer pest. Bt corn contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis which is deadly to the corn borer pest. The complainants asked the court to stop Pioneer's experiments and other related field tests because of the alleged hazards of GM crops. |
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| SEAMEO SEARCA Biotechnology Information
Center http://www.bic.searca.org  |
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