‘earo019 tps ww lawphilnetjudjurisur20 16/u20"6igr 209271 _2016.htm?bclid=IwAR 1znkékr-hdbeM-Ud_2VEbtKOgaUbmiOmSMa79eHAwOpeht GR. No. 209271 The LAWPHIL Project vane Jeu 24,2019 * Supreme Court Manila ENBANG uly 26,2016 INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF AGRLBIOTECH APPLICATIONS, INC. Pettener GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG. [AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, OR. BEN MALAYANG Il DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA Ill CATHERINE UNTALAN, ATTY: MARIA PAZ LUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO QUIJANO, OR, WENCESLAO KIAT, JR, ATTY, H, HARRY ROQUE. JR, FORMER SEN, ORLANDO MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD &, HAGEDORN, and EDWIN MARTHINE Lopez. Responaents. GR, No, 209276 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL ‘COURT OF APPEALS, GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN MALAYANG Il, DR. MODINA, DAGOHOY' MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO QUJJANO, DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR. ATTY, i. HARRY ROQUE, JR. FORMER SEN. ORLANDO MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD 5. HAGEDORN, land EDWIN MARTHINE LOPEZ, Responcente GIR. No, 209301 UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS FOUNDATION, ING. Petionor, GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG [AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN NALAYANG Il, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA I, CATHERINE UNTALAN, ATTY. MARIA PAZLUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, OR. ROMEO QUIJANO, DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR, ATTY. H. HARRY L. ROQUE, JR. FORMER LOPEZ, Respondents. " GR, No, 209420 UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAROS, Pettons, GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG [AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN MALAYANG Il, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA I, CATHERINE UNTALAN, ATIY. MARIA PAZ LUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, OR. ROMEO QUIJANG, DR WENCESLAO KIAY JR, ATTY. H. HARRY U- ROQUE, JR. FORMER SEN, ORLANDO MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD S. HAGEDORN, and EDWIN MARTHINE LOPEZ, Resporaonts. RESOLUTION Before the Cout ae rine (8) Motions fr Reconsideration assaing the Decion? dated December 8, 2015 ofthe Court (Dacamer 8, 2018 Decision), which upheld wh raaiation tha Dpcison” cated May 17, 20°3 ard the Reson gated Septombar 20,2013 of re Cour of Appoas (CA) in CACGR. SPINO 0003 “Tne natant cae ave om th conduit ald ls or "icenginered sggplans” known a8 aclu thuringiensis {29 eagpiont (flan, admcistored pre Io the Memsrarcom of Undertaking (MOU) entre io yhoran Bethonare Unwersy of tho Phignines Los Bars Foundaton, Inc. (UPLEPI) anc Irsmetonal Service fo a ‘Requstion of AgitBltech Agaleaions, he (ISAAA), ana the Unveay ofthe Phippines Mindanae Feundatan Ine! (UPMD, among other long cant he eyetallexin genes or the So eteram Bt when produces ‘he Coac protin hal toxic target set pests, The CryTAc proton is sido be highiy spec fo fopdoperan [awe set nee lt and shoot boar, the most destructive ees pesto eggplants From 2007 to 2009, peter Universiy ofthe Philpines Los Banos (UPLB), tbe implementing insti ofthe ‘old als, conducted conaines experiment Bt falory Under te Supetvaion ofthe Nall Camvnitoe ot Bosalety of the Phippnes (NCSP)? The NCBP crealed under Execulve Order No. (20) 430! the raguatoy am‘earo019 tps ww lawphilnetjudjurisur20 16/u20"6lgr 209271 _2016.htm?belid=IWAR 1znkékr-hdbeM-Ud_2VEbtKOgaUamiOmSMa79eHEwOpeht GR. No. 209271 00 lased a: (2) "boity and ovaluate poten hazards invlved in iting genetic engingaing experiments or ‘he riod 9 new species and genstealyengieeresorganieme and ecor:man measure ominize rs ‘2 () Torte and feviow natonal pelts ard gudelnes on Sosatey, uch asthe safo conduct of work ot Gera everson drt alae ye election rane ea, erent NCBP ised Cartate™ thraor tang that al osafety measures ware complad with, anno ntoward Neident had occured.” (On March 16,2010 and June 2, 2010, he Bureau of Plant Industri (2) sued wo (2) year Bosal Permte* {or Fait losing o! Bt aongater UPLB's fa tot proponl satstactorly completes biowally tsk ausnsment fr ‘old os pursuant to be Depart of Agrcaur’s (DA) Admonstave Order No.8, saris of 2002" (OO OB 2002)" nigh proves for fe les and regulon for he inpotion and releses nf te eneonment of las ‘ed plant produete dered trom the use ot modem bllectnaogy." Caneequerth, ted tstng processed In ‘Spproved al sos in Not Colaba, Pangasinan, Cararnes Sur, Dave Cy and Lane.” (On Ape 26, 2012, respondents Greenpeace Souleas! Asi (Philipines) (Greanpeace), Mogsasoka at Siento ‘3 Pagpapaunlad ng Agra (MASIPAG), ane otrers (expanders) re he Gout Potion for Wnt of Contazng Mandamus ana Wit of Katkasan wih Prayer ore ksuanee of @ Temporary Enurenmenial Preston Dice” (TEPO}" (petton lor We of Kaltasan) again hain petitoners Ihe Enwronmerial Management Bufesu {E16} ofthe Deport of Envienment and Natural Resouces (OENR), the BP! and the Fetzer ane Peside [uthony (FPA) ofthe DA, UPCBFL, ang SAMA, and PML, allging tat the 8 Yalong eld talk vate tnt onsttzlonal right fo Roath and a salanced vedogy conscenng, aang otters, tht (a) the Enveormentl Camplance Caza (€CC), a equired by Preicrtl Decree No-(PD) 5%, wes ol aeewed pr lo he fed tals (the required public consuiatons under the Local Government Gade (LGC) wore ne comple wth and {@). a a regulated arcle under DAO 08-2002, tatong is presumed harmo hrran heath ana the erwonrt, ‘2 Pat heels no Independent, poorrovewed study showing ie sally for human consumo and he ‘Sioned re; they caked tat anc eset endece Yo the sly of tong remained preembonay principle shou be apphod and, hereby, he Fels tal be enpined* (On May 2.2012, the Court issued a Wit of Katkasan against petoners (xcept UPLB) and UPN, orderng ‘hom to make a vetted rtum wihin @nonextandble pau often (10) days, as povided fin Secton & Rule of {he Riles of Procedure for Enwronmental Cases Ths, complance tron, ISAAR, EMBIBPUFPA, UPLBF ard UPNEV” Mod tha recpoctva verted rats. and theron mained that a) all onérormonal laws wore ‘ompbed with, including the requires public soneviabor inthe afectaa communes (0) an ECC was not raured ‘ortna tld tals a fl pt sgncany sect he environment nor pose a hazard io hurman neat) hee Is Plethora of scleufc warks and teratre, peer-reviewed, on te safely oft fatng for human corsungtn, (2) Sry rte. th salty of Bt flong for human consumption i releact Because ron of tho eggplant w= Be Consumed by humans or anivals anda metals nt used for analyses wil bo chopped, bled, an buried {olowag tb condons of he Blosafty Permits; and (etn precasionry pnp could tb testing as oy 8 pat of contnang ty fo eau hat such als have ho sig ane (nm July 1, 2012, tho Court isuod a Rescuer” refering the cas to the Court of Appeal for acaptancs ofthe ‘eum ofthe wnt and for nearng, dept of evidane, and rendean of juegment a neanng bee the CA on ‘August, 2072, UPLB was mpleaded as party tothe ease and was fomahed By respondnts a copy of thelt prion. Consequently the GA dvocted UPLB te es comment to the palion™ and, an August 26,204, UPL Sed te Arawor" acopng the arguments and allegations inthe vested retuned by UPLBFI On te other hans, ns Rosolslon™ sated February #3, 2073, tho CA cicharged UPMFl ac a ary to tho caso pursuant tho Manson ane Maton He by reapocents mn ero epee fe posecangh an reba te rs ‘The CA Ruling In a Decision dat May 17, 2013, tho CA rue in favor of respondonts and ecea pitoners to pom tanorty chase and cess ‘fom condicing te Bf lalong fed tral Al he ousel. td nol ed mrt potiloners antenon tha! he cae should be dgmiseed on the ground of maotness, nag thal te igs “aed by ts ate ‘tare capable of raptton yal evading review ince Bang eld Wal wat jst one of the pases Of sges of ‘br overland bigger say that i Dang conducted in rlation fo ha sad gonateasymaated organism.” kthen fala thatthe provauonay piincale sot ‘or under Sacton 1 Fula 20 of the Rules of Procedure “or Ecviorenal Ease evar, corsieng te Phgpies ich Rodersy and wceiany auoundng Be market and found the sxising regulations lsvee by be DA and the Department of Sconce and Technology (Bost) isuttent tw quaante ho sat fhe envfonment and he heath tho pple.” agri, peter pcay moved fr onions Howat, & Resa dad Sepa 20 ‘eologleaty inbalanng act" Anont UPLB 's argument that tho Wi of Katkasan volte is rit fo acadome ‘feedor he CA emphasized thal ie wr i net sop te resoarch on rang but ony tn procadure enplaye n Conducing tng tele al, ard only sts ime wen thet Is Yl no law ensuring is satty wen reduced fhe Dissatfed pitionas files th respective patton for avew on cartora before this Cou. The Proc ings Before the Court In. Declan dated December 8, 2015, the Cour denied te pttons and according, affned wih medeaion Beagle CA Age wh he Gx ne Cut atne Saco pra nen case her crevrsble nam, The Cour observed fat eggpari ae apie vegetable inthe county that & most row By Smatcal armors who are poor and marginalize; bus, vente cou’ len ledvaray. no consequonoas ortaminalen and goneti palston would be asasous and ureversble” Completion and lernnation of Ihe Bt atng a als, on aceaunt of the flowing sxcoplons to he moctness prinape (a) ho exceptional charactor of tne siuaton and ih parameunt pube meres 's mvelved ara (o) Ne Easel capatl of vepeon yt evading evow:= Furber We Court noted that while the provons of DAO 08.2002 ware observed, the National Blosaety Framework (NGF) established under EO 544, series of 2006% which redures gue paricpaton nal stages of Besafey eeclson-makng, pursuant fo tho Cartagena Protocel on Blosaaly" whien was aocodod to by He Patties in 2000 and aecame effectve local n 2003, was nt comple wi Moreover, he fal tastng shoul ave been subjeced ta Enwonmerial Impact ASsassmn (eA), consisering thet inealed new ochnalagios wh ‘Thus, the Cout permanonily ononed the fl esting of Bt falon. In adston, Wt declared DAO 08-2002 ru and old for fare to consiar the provisors ofthe NBF. The Cour also Temaoralyanjined any apoleaton for ‘Stand ul wning, opagitn, onan. ard earatn ogrweay mode ann at am‘earo019 GR. No. 209271 “The tesues Presented in the Motions for Reconside Undauned, poitoners moved for rconsieration arguing, among ober, that (a) the case shoud have been ‘samsted for mootnese [now ofthe complain and trminaton of hs Bt along fel als and tho exprabon ofthe Souetaty Parma 0) he Cour shoud not have ruled an the vay of OAO.00-2002 ae Niwa not asad an Ss" and (e) tho Cou ered in ring en the scented in the Oecamber 8, 2015 Decion whieh were nl ‘fred inovidence ang veld Bt com, not Bt ong In thoi Consolidates Commas respondents maintain, in ossonce, that: (2) the case is not mostod by tho onpleion af fed Ul since fs testing pao he procass of conmeeatzaion and wll eventual lad To popagatlon, conmaveazsion, and consumption of long se 9 consumer product") te vali of OO 08 12002 was "sod by responens when thoy argund in tele pelison fr Wr of Kakasor tal such adsnsratve Seuancn fe not enough fo adequataly pre: the Constssonl ght of te people #o'a balanoss and nea ‘ology and (otha Curt correctly took Mac notoe ofthe slic sues showing the agave elt of Bt {octelogy and ape the precautionary pinta ‘The Court's Rating “Th Court grants the motions for reconsideration onthe ground of moots [As aul, the Court may only adudcato actual, ongoing controversies Tho rqulrerant ofthe existance of 2 “Eve oa ac cancer th rpe ne pow al eve procs om Stony Section 1. The js power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts a may be enabled oy law, Judi power includes the duty ofthe coms of usc t settle actual controversies invlving rights ‘tech ate togally domandable an enforcebie and 1 detarmne hetero hat Bere has be [fave abute of dscrofon emouring to lock oF excess ofuaccon on the part of any branch or insrumontalty ofthe Goverment (Emphaes suppiea) ‘According the Cour is nt empoweres to decde mact questions or abstract propostons, orto declare pencines ‘rules flaw which cannot alec the fesu as to he thing in nsue i ha cave before Ih ter word, when & ‘An action is considered “most” when it no ongor presets a justcablo convoversyhocauso the Issues insted rave cecora academic or dead or Wan tha ater In dspula has afeady Goon rosavod and Renee, ere Is Mol ‘ried ia avert Utne he ances at be raed again btwn he pare, Teresi or Nevertheless, ca aw stats thal the Cou wil decide cases, oterwize mooi stores a grave vation of ‘he Constiton: second, the exceptoral character ofthe ston and tha paramount pe ineeat ae voles tha, nen te constuona sue rated qua frmulaton of containg panaples fo guide te bench, the ba, sale pb; and out, ake capaie ofp yet ead review" Tu, paece reagan In tho Decomber 8, 2016 Decision of to Cour, it was hold that) the present caso is of excopcna character and paramount publ narest Is waves, and (2) ts ewe capa of repeton yet evading rviow. anos, was ‘Site rm ha odie pcp’ Hower ona dae sy of bw pata argon, Cot Beng moot and academi, and that ths afrosadexcoptions fo the sald rule should ot have be=n app, {onthe paramount public Interest excention, uisgrudence nts juteacton has set no nad-anc-ast ein determining whether a cass involves paramour Dube itrast In rlaton lo the mocthots prince. Hower, a vey of caves Wout show Pa as 9 commen ‘Gasopost for spolzaton thor shoud bo sone percvable Beret tothe puble wsch demands the Cou fo Broceod wih be resolution of oberwisa moot quostons. In Gonzales Commission an Electons"an acon for doclaetory judgment asain ts val of Reputc Act wo fh 580 wn obi ey anata andar acne cs td uy ton consis Getided. Nonetheless, tho Court Coated the pation as ove fo prohbton and rendered Jasgmert in vow of The aramount publenterest and tho unconable neces or rung. he natal lecons [ot 1060 baing barely sx monn aay relwtheanding tho supervonng death of one of te contestants, According lo te Cour man elocion contest, ‘re sa paramount need to spel he uncertainty that beds ho real ence ote clctrat.” In Davis w. Macapoga!-Aroy,"he Cour ued on the constutenay of Prise Proclamation No, 1017, 2006; which doctred a sate o Naina! Emergency, even ough the sare wae Med belore 2 dacsion coud be ‘encorad. The Cour oxpaines tat tho case was ane of excoplonal character and invoked paramount pute iors, borauso the peoplos Basic nghs fo exprosson, asombly, and of th ress wera atisse.* In Constantino v Sandganbayan both of the accused were fund gly of graft and coruotpracoss under Sesion) at RA 301" One on amined ppaiatacoctan wl ee ida plo cera ‘toroo cnsidring th excoptoral charactor ofthe appeals my rlation fo each athe He, the two pelons Were 60 bertvied ha tn absluton of ha Ceosased was determnatv ol he abeolton of he ave aoctsed.” More recent n Funa . Manila Economie and Cultural fice (MECO) "be petoner prayed tha the Commission ‘Se Audi (COA) be ordored to aud the MECO witch is based In Towan, onthe pramse tal f= 3 government ‘Suned and conrad corporation.” The COA ad tat the care easy mot ar shouldbe essed. snes {hae aloady deccted a tam of auatore to proceed to Taiwan to audt the accounts of MECO.” Ruling one Ime te Gout exglaned that te case was of paramount puble iNarest because Ht woled tre CONS Davlomance ols coraifutona dty ana because te eave cones the loge stats of MECO, 0, hater may be considered a 8 govrnmant agency of not, which has rel Bearing on the county's eammiment te One China Paley of he People's Repustc of Cina” In convast tothe foregoing cases, no percelabla bens to ie puble- whether ronal opracical-may be gained 5 teshrg respondent peti for WH of Kalkasan an he mei “To ecoun theto eases, which stemmed rm herein espondnts pation fo Wit of Kaltasan, wore mooted bythe Lnaspuled expratin of he Biosafety Perms ssued by be BPI and the competion and termination ofthe Bt along Jala wale supect cf ba sara" There Incdorts fectvey negatod the necossly fo tno rllts tought by ‘onder tipo rt of Raaan a ewan rg” yal oe Hann ath ee longer eapaso of execution " ° tps www lawphilnetjudjurisur20 6/u20"6lgr 209271 _2016.htm?belid=IwAR znKékr-thbeM-Ud_2VEbIKOgaUamOmSMa7oBHEWOpeM.... 3/11