EN BANC

July 26, 2016

G.R. No. 209271

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF AGRI-BIOTECH APPLICATIONS,

INC., Petitioner
vs.
GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA
PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN
MALAYANG III, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA III, CATHERINE UNTALAN,
ATTY. MARIA PAZ LUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO QUIJANO,
DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR., ATTY. H. HARRY ROQUE., JR., FORMER SEN. ORLANDO
MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD S. HAGEDORN, and EDWIN MARTHINE
LOPEZ, Respondents.
CROP LIFE PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner-in-Intervention

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G.R. No. 209276

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND

NATURAL RESOURCES, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY AND THE FERTILIZER AND
PESTICIDE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Petitioners,
vs.
COURT OF APPEALS, GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT
SIYENTIPIKO SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO,
DR. BEN MALAYANG III, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA III, CATHERINE
UNTALAN, ATTY. MARIA PAZ LUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO
QUIJANO, DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR., ATTY. H. HARRY ROQUE, JR., FORMER SEN.
ORLANDO MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD S. HAGEDORN, and EDWIN
MARTHINE LOPEZ, Respondents.
CROP LIFE PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner-in-Intervention.

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G.R. No. 209301

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BANOS FOUNDATION, INC., Petitioner,

vs.
GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA
PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN
MALAYANG III, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA III, CATHERINE UNTALAN,
ATTY. MARIA PAZLUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO QUIJANO,
DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR., ATTY. H. HARRY L. ROQUE, JR., FORMER SEN. ORLANDO
MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD S. HAGEDORN, and EDWIN MARTHINE
LOPEZ, Respondents.

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G.R. No. 209430

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAÑOS, Petitioner,

vs.
GREENPEACE SOUTHEAST ASIA (PHILIPPINES), MAGSASAKA AT SIYENTIPIKO SA
PAGPAPAUNLAD NG AGRIKULTURA (MASIPAG), REP. TEODORO CASINO, DR. BEN
MALAYANG III, DR. ANGELINA GALANG, LEONARDO AVILA III, CATHERINE UNTALAN,
ATTY. MARIA PAZ LUNA, JUANITO MODINA, DAGOHOY MAGAWAY, DR. ROMEO QUIJANO,
DR. WENCESLAO KIAT, JR., ATTY. H. HARRY L. ROQUE, JR., FORMER SEN. ORLANDO
MERCADO, NOEL CABANGON, MAYOR EDWARD S. HAGEDORN, and EDWIN MARTHINE
LOPEZ, Respondents.

RESOLUTION

PERLAS-BERNABE, J.:

Before the Court are nine (9) Motions for Reconsideration1 assailing the Decision2 dated December
8, 2015 of the Court (December 8, 2015 Decision), which upheld with modification the
Decision3 dated May 17, 2013 and the Resolution4 dated September 20, 2013 of the Court of
Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 00013.

The Facts

The instant case arose from the conduct of field trials for "bioengineered eggplants," known
as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant (Bt talong), administered pursuant to the Memorandum of
Undertaking5 (MOU) entered into by herein petitioners University of the Philippines Los Baños
Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI) and International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications,
Inc. (ISAAA), and the University of the Philippines Mindanao Foundation, Inc. (UPMFI), among
others. Bt talong contains the crystal toxin genes from the soil bacterium Bt, which produces
the CrylAc protein that is toxic to target insect pests. The Cry1Ac protein is said to be highly specific
to lepidopteran larvae such as the fruit and shoot borer, the most destructive insect pest to
eggplants.6

From 2007 to 2009, petitioner University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), the implementing
institution of the field trials, conducted a contained experiment on Bt talong under the supervision of
the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP).7 The NCBP, created under
Executive Order No. (EO) 430,8 is the regulatory body tasked to: (a) "identify and evaluate potential
hazards involved in initiating genetic engineering experiments or the introduction of new species and
genetically engineered organisms and recommend measures to minimize risks"; and (b) ''formulate
and review national policies and guidelines on biosafety, such as the safe conduct of work on
genetic engineering, pests and their genetic materials for the protection of public health,
environment[,] and personnel[,] and supervise the implementation thereof."9 Upon the completion of
the contained experiment, the NCBP issued a Certificate10 therefor stating that all biosafety
measures were complied with, and no untoward incident had occurred.11

On March 16, 2010 and June 28, 2010, the Bureau of Plant Industries (BPI) issued two (2)-year
Biosafety Permits12for field testing of Bt talong13after UPLB's field test proposal satisfactorily
completed biosafety risk assessment for field testing pursuant to the Department of Agriculture's
(DA) Administrative Order No. 8, series of 200214 (DAO 08-2002),15 which provides for the rules and
regulations for the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived
from the use of modern biotechnology.16 Consequently, field testing proceeded in approved trial sites
in North Cotabato, Pangasinan, Camarines Sur, Davao City, and Laguna.17
On April 26, 2012, respondents Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines) (Greenpeace), Magsasaka
at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG), and others (respondents) filed before
the Court a Petition for Writ of Continuing Mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan with Prayer for the
Issuance of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO)18 (petition for Writ
of Kalikasan) against herein petitioners the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the BPI and the Fertilizer and Pesticide
Authority (FPA) of the DA, UPLBFI, and ISAAA, and UPMFI, alleging that the Bt talong field trials
violated their constitutional right to health and a balanced ecology considering, among others, that:
(a) the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), as required by Presidential Decree No. (PD)
1151,19 was not secured prior to the field trials;20 (b) the required public consultations under the Local
Government Code (LGC) were not complied with;21 and (c) as a regulated article under DAO 08-
2002, Bt talong is presumed harmful to human health and the environment, and that there is no
independent, peer-reviewed study showing its safety for human consumption and the
environment.22 Further, they contended that since the scientific evidence as to the safety of Bt
talong remained insufficient or uncertain, and that preliminary scientific evaluation shows reasonable
grounds for concern, the precautionary principle should be applied and, thereby, the field trials be
enjoined.23

On May 2, 2012, the Court issued24 a Writ of Kalikasan against petitioners (except UPLB25) and
UPMFI, ordering them to make a verified return within a non-extendible period of ten (10) days, as
provided for in Section 8, Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases.26 Thus, in
compliance therewith, ISAAA, EMB/BPI/FPA, UPLBFI, and UPMFI27 filed their respective verified
returns,28 and therein maintained that: (a) all environmental laws were complied with, including the
required public consultations in the affected communities; (b) an ECC was not required for the field
trials as it will not significantly affect the environment nor pose a hazard to human health; (c) there is
a plethora of scientific works and literature, peer-reviewed, on the safety of Bt talong for human
consumption; (d) at any rate, the safety of Bt talong for human consumption is irrelevant because
none of the eggplants will be consumed by humans or animals and all materials not used for
analyses will be chopped, boiled, and buried following the conditions of the Biosafety Permits; and
(e) the precautionary principle could not be applied as the field testing was only a part of a
continuing study to ensure that such trials have no significant and negative impact on the
environment.29

On July 10, 2012, the Court issued a Resolution30 referring the case to the Court of Appeals for
acceptance of the return of the writ and for hearing, reception of evidence, and rendition of
judgment.31 In a hearing before the CA on August 14, 2012, UPLB was impleaded as a party to the
case and was furnished by respondents a copy of their petition. Consequently the CA directed UPLB
to file its comment to the petition32 and, on August 24, 2012, UPLB filed its Answer33 adopting the
arguments and allegations in the verified return filed by UPLBFI. On the other hand, in a
Resolution34 dated February 13, 2013, the CA discharged UPMFI as a party to the case pursuant to
the Manifestation and Motion filed by respondents in order to expedite the proceedings and
resolution of the latter's petition.

The CA Ruling

In a Decision35 dated May 17, 2013, the CA ruled in favor of respondents and directed petitioners to
pem1anently cease and desist from conducting the Bt talong field trials.36 At the outset, it did not find
merit in petitioners' contention that the case should be dismissed on the ground of mootness, noting
that the issues raised by the latter were "capable of repetition yet evading review" since the Bt
talong field trial was just one of the phases or stages of an overall and bigger study that is being
conducted in relation to the said genetically-modified organism.37 It then held that the precautionary
principle set forth under Section 1,38 Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases39 is
relevant, considering the Philippines' rich biodiversity and uncertainty surrounding the safety of Bt
talong. It noted the possible irreversible effects of the field trials and the introduction of Bt talong to
the market, and found the existing regulations issued by the DA and the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) insufficient to guarantee the safety of the environment and the health of the
people.40

Aggrieved, petitioners separately moved for reconsideration.41 However, in a Resolution42 dated

September 20, 2013, the CA denied the same and remarked that introducing genetically modified
plant into the ecosystem is an ecologically imbalancing act.43 Anent UPLB 's argument that the Writ
of Kalikasan violated its right to academic freedom, the CA emphasized that the writ did not stop the
research on Bt talong but only the procedure employed in conducting the field trials, and only at this
time when there is yet no law ensuring its safety when introduced to the environment.44

Dissatisfied, petitioners filed their respective petitions for review on certiorari before this Court.

The Proceedings Before the Court

In a Decision45 dated December 8, 2015, the Court denied the petitions and accordingly, affinned
with modification the ruling of the CA.46 Agreeing with the CA, the Court held that the precautionar;
principle applies in this case since the risk of harm from the field trials of Bt talong remains uncertain
and there exists a possibility of serious and irreversible harm. The Court observed that eggplants are
a staple vegetable in the country that is mostly grown by small-scale farmers who are poor and
marginalized; thus, given the country's rich biodiversity, the consequences of contamination and
genetic pollution would be disastrous and irreversible.47

The Court likewise agreed with the CA in not dismissing the case for being moot and academic
despite the completion and termination of the Bt talong field trials, on account of the following
exceptions to the mootness principle: (a) the exceptional character of the situation and the
paramount public interest is involved; and (b) the case is capable of repetition yet evading review.48

Further, the Court noted that while the provisions of DAO 08-2002 were observed, the National
Biosafety Framework (NBF) established under EO 514, series of 200649 which requires public
participation in all stages of biosafety decision-making, pursuant to the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety50 which was acceded to by the Philippines in 2000 and became effective locally in 2003,
was not complied with.51 Moreover, the field testing should have been subjected to Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA), considering that it involved new technologies with uncertain results.52

Thus, the Court permanently enjoined the field testing of Bt talong. In addition, it declared DAO 08-
2002 null and void for failure to consider the provisions of the NBF. The Court also temporarily
enjoined any application for contained use, field testing, propagation, commercialization, and
importation of genetically modified organisms until a new administrative order is promulgated in
accordance with law.53

The Issues Presented in the Motions for Reconsideration

Undaunted, petitioners moved for reconsideration,54 arguing, among others, that: (a) the case should
have been dismissed for mootness in view of the completion and termination of the Bt talong field
trials and the expiration of the Biosafety Permits;55 (b) the Court should not have ruled on the validity
of DAO 08-2002 as it was not raised as an issue;56 and (c) the Court erred in relying on the studies
cited in the December 8, 2015 Decision which were not offered in evidence and involved Bt
corn, not Bt talong.57
In their Consolidated Comments,58 respondents maintain, in essence, that: (a) the case is not mooted
by the completion of the field trials since field testing is part of the process of commercialization and
will eventually lead to propagation, commercialization, and consumption of Bt talong as a consumer
product;59 (b) the validity of DAO 08-2002 was raised by respondents when they argued in their
petition for Writ of Kalikasan that such administrative issuance is not enough to adequately protect
the Constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology;60 and (c) the Court
correctly took judicial notice of the scientific studies showing the negative effects of Bt technology
and applied the precautionary principle.61

The Court's Ruling

The Court grants the motions for reconsideration on the ground of mootness.

As a rule, the Court may only adjudicate actual, ongoing controversies.62 The requirement of the
existence of a "case" or an "actual controversy" for the proper exercise of the power of judicial
review proceeds from Section 1, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution:

Section 1. The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may
be established by law.

Judicial power includes the duty of the comis of justice to settle actual controversies involving
rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has
been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any
branch or instrumentality of the Government. (Emphasis supplied)

Accordingly, the Court is not empowered to decide moot questions or abstract propositions, or to
declare principles or rules of law which cannot affect the result as to the thing in issue in the case
before it. In other words, when a case is moot, it becomes non-justiciable.63

An action is considered "moot" when it no longer presents a justiciable controversy because the
issues involved have become academic or dead or when the matter in dispute has already been
resolved and hence, one is not entitled to judicial intervention unless the issue is likely to be raised
again between the parties. There is nothing for the court to resolve as the determination thereof has
been overtaken by subsequent events.64

Nevertheless, case law states that the Court will decide cases, otherwise moot, if: first, there is a
grave violation of the Constitution; second, the exceptional character of the situation and the
paramount public interest are involved; third, when the constitutional issue raised requires
formulation of controlling principles to guide the bench, the bar, and the public; and fourth, the case
is capable of repetition yet evading review.65 Thus, jurisprudence recognizes these four instances as
exceptions to the mootness principle.

In the December 8, 2015 Decision of the Court, it was held that (a) the present case is of exceptional
character and paramount public interest is involved, and (b) it is likewise capable of repetition yet
evading review. Hence, it was excepted from the mootness principle.66 However, upon a closer
scrutiny of the parties' arguments, the Court reconsiders its ruling and now finds merit in petitioners'
assertion that the case should have been dismissed for being moot and academic, and that the
aforesaid exceptions to the said rule should not have been applied.

I. On the paramount public interest exception.

Jurisprudence in this jurisdiction has set no hard-and-fast rule in determining whether a case
involves paramount public interest in relation to the mootness principle. However, a survey of cases
would show that, as a common guidepost for application, there should be some perceivable benefit
to the public which demands the Court to proceed with the resolution of otherwise moot questions.

In Gonzales v. Commission on Elections,67an action for declaratory judgment assailing the validity of
Republic Act No. (RA) 4880,68 which prohibits the early nomination of candidates for elective offices
and early election campaigns or partisan political activities became moot by reason of the holding of
the 1967 elections before the case could be decided. Nonetheless, the Court treated the petition as
one for prohibition and rendered judgment in view of "the paramount public interest and the
undeniable necessity for a ruling, the national elections [of 1969] being barely six months away."69

In De Castro v. Commission on Elections,70 the Court proceeded to resolve the election protest
subject of that case notwithstanding the supervening death of one of the contestants. According to
the Court, in an election contest, there is a paramount need to dispel the uncertainty that beclouds
the real choice of the electorate.71

In David v. Macapagal-Arroyo,72the Court ruled on the constitutionality of Presidential Proclamation

No. 1017, s. 2006,73 which declared a state of National Emergency, even though the same was lifted
before a decision could be rendered. The Court explained that the case was one of exceptional
character and involved paramount public interest, because the people's basic rights to expression,
assembly, and of the press were at issue.74

In Constantino v. S'andiganbayan,75 both of the accused were found guilty of graft and corrupt
practices under Section 3 (e) of RA 3019.76 One of the accused appealed the conviction, while the
other filed a petition for certiorari before the Court. While the appellant died during the pendency of
his appeal, the Court still ruled on the merits thereof considering the exceptional character of the
appeals in relation to each other, i.e., the two petitions were so intertwined that the absolution of the
deceased was determinative of the absolution of the other accused.77

More recently, in Funa v. Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO),78the petitioner prayed that
the Commission on Audit (COA) be ordered to audit the MECO which is based in Taiwan, on the
premise that it is a government-owned and controlled corporation.79 The COA argued that the case is
already moot and should be dismissed, since it had already directed a team of auditors to proceed to
Taiwan to audit the accounts of MECO.80 Ruling on the merits, the Court explained that the case was
of paramount public interest because it involved the COA's performance of its constitutional duty and
because the case concerns the legal status of MECO, i.e., whether it may be considered as a
government agency or not, which has a direct bearing on the country's commitment to the One
China Policy of the People's Republic of China.81

In contrast to the foregoing cases, no perceivable benefit to the public - whether rational or practical
- may be gained by resolving respondents' petition for Writ of Kalikasan on the merits.

To recount, these cases, which stemmed from herein respondents petition for Writ
of Kalikasan, were mooted by the undisputed expiration of the Biosafety Permits issued by the BPI
and the completion and termination of the Bt talong field trials subject of the same.82 These incidents
effectively negated the necessity for the reliefs sought by respondents in their petition for Writ
of Kalikasan as there was no longer any field test to enjoin. Hence, at the time the CA rendered its
Decision dated May 17, 2013, the reliefs petitioner sought and granted by the CA were no longer
capable of execution.
At this juncture, it is important to understand that the completion and termination of the field tests do
not mean that herein petitioners may inevitably proceed to commercially propagate Bt talong.83 There
are three (3) stages before genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) may become commercially
available under DAO 08-200284 and each stage is distinct, such that "[s]ubsequent stages can only
proceed if the prior stage/s [is/]are completed and clearance is given to engage in the next
regulatory stage."85 Specifically, before a genetically modified organism is allowed to be propagated
under DAO 08-2002: (a) a permit for propagation must be secured from the BPI; (b) it can be shown
that based on the field testing conducted in the Philippines, the regulated article will not pose any
significant risks to the environment; (c) food and/or feed safety studies show that the regulated
article will not pose any significant risks to human and animal health; and (d) if the regulated article
is a pest-protected plant, its transformation event has been duly registered with the FPA.86

As the matter never went beyond the field testing phase, none of the foregoing tasks related to
propagation were pursued or the requirements therefor complied with. Thus, there are no
guaranteed after-effects to the already concluded Bt talong field trials that demand an adjudication
from which the public may perceivably benefit. Any future threat to the right ,of herein respondents or
the public in general to a healthful and balanced ecology is therefore more imagined than real.

In fact, it would appear to be more beneficial to the public to stay a verdict on the safeness of Bt
talong - or GMOs, for that matter - until an actual and justiciable case properly presents itself before
the Court. In his Concurring Opinion87 on the main, Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen (Justice
Leonen) had aptly pointed out that "the findings [resulting from the Bt talong field trials] should be the
material to provide more rigorous scientific analysis of the various claims made in relation to Bt
talong."88 True enough, the concluded field tests ·- like those in these cases – would yield data that
may prove useful for future studies and analyses. If at all, resolving the petition for Writ
of Kalikasan would unnecessarily arrest the results of further research and testing on Et talong, and
even GMOs in general, and hence, tend to hinder scientific advancement on the subject matter.

More significantly, it is clear that no benefit would be derived by the public in assessing the merits of
field trials whose parameters are not only unique to the specific type of Bt talong tested, but are now,
in fact, rendered obsolete by the supervening change in the regulatory framework applied to GMO
field testing. To be sure, DAO 08-2002 has already been superseded by Joint Department Circular
No. 1, series of 201689 (JDC 01-2016), issued by the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), the DA, the DENR, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), which provides a substantially different regulatory framework from that
under DAO 08-2002 as will be detailed below. Thus, to resolve respondents' petition for Writ
of Kalikasan on its merits, would be tantamount to an unnecessary scholarly exercise for the Court
to assess alleged violations of health and environmental rights that arose from a past test case
whose bearings do not find any - if not minimal -- relevance to cases operating under today's
regulatory framework.

Therefore, the paramount public interest exception to the mootness rule should not have been
applied.1âwphi 1

II. The case is not one capable of repetition vet evading review.

Likewise, contrary to the Court's earlier ruling,90 these cases do not fall under the "capable of
repetition yet evading review" exception.

The Court notes that the petition for Writ of Kalikasan specifically raised issues only against the field
testing of Bt talong under the premises 'of DAO 08,..2002,91 i.e., that herein petitioners failed to: (a)
fully inform the eople regarding the health, environment, and other hazards involved;92 and (b)
conduct any valid risk assessment before conducting the field trial.93 As further pointed out by Justice
Leonen, the reliefs sought did not extend far enough to enjoin the use of the results of the field trials
that have been completed. Hence, the petition's specificity prevented it from falling under the above
exception to the mootness rule.94

More obviously, the supersession of DAO 08-2002 by JDC 01-2016 clearly prevents this case from
being one capable of repetition so as to warrant review despite its mootness. To contextualize, JDC
01-2016 states that:

Section 1. Applicability. This Joint Department Circular shall apply to the research, development,
handling and use, transboundary movement, release into the environment, and management of
genetically-modified plant and plant products derived from the use of modern technology, included
under "regulated articles."

As earlier adverted to, with the issuance of JDC 01-2016, a new regulatory framework in the conduct
of field testing now applies.

Notably, the new framework under JDC 01-2016 is substantially different from that under DAO 08-
2002. In fact, the new parameters in JDC 01-2016 pertain to provisions which prompted the Court to
invalidate D'AO 08-2002. In the December 8, 2015 Decision of the Court, it was observed that: (a)
DAO 08-2002 has no mechanism to mandate compliance with inten1ational biosafety protocols;95 (b)
DAO 08-2002 does not comply with the transparency and public participation requirements under
the NBF;96 and (c) risk assessment is conducted by an informal group, called the Biosafety Advisory
Team of the DA, composed of representatives from the BPI, Bureau of Animal Industry, FPA, DENR,
DOH, and DOST.97

Under DAO 08-2002, no specific guidelines were used in the conduct of risk assessment, and the
DA was allowed to consider the expert advice of, and guidelines developed by, relevant inteniational
organizations and regulatory authorities of countries with significant experience in the regulatory
supervision of the regulated article.98 However, under JDC 01-2016, the
CODEX Alimentarius Guidelines was adopted to govern the risk assessment of activities involving
the research, development, handling and use, transboundary movement, release into the
environment, and management of genetically modified plant and plant products derived from the use
of modem biotechnology.99Also, whereas DAO 08-2002 was limited to the DA's authority in regulating
the importation and release into the environment of plants and plant products derived from the use of
modern biotechnology,100 under JDC 01-2016, various relevant government agencies such as the
DOST, DOH, DENR, and the DILG now participate in all stages of the biosafety decision-making
process, with the DOST being the central and lead agency.101

JDC 01-2016 also provides for a more comprehensive avenue for public participation in cases
involving field trials and requires applications for permits and permits already issued to be made
public by posting them online in the websites of the NCBP and the BPI.102 The composition of the
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) has also been modified to include an elected local official in
the locality where the field testing will be conducted as one of the community
representatives.103 Previously, under DAO 08-2002, the only requirement for the community
representatives is that they shall not be affiliated with the applicant and shall be in a position to
represent the interests of the communities where the field testing is to be conducted.104

JDC 01-2016 also prescribes additional qualifications for the members of the Scientific and
Technical Review Panel (STRP), the pool of scientists that evaluates the risk assessment submitted
by the applicant for field trial, commercial propagation, or direct use of regulated articles. Aside from
not being an official, staff or employee of the DA or any of its attached agencies, JDC 01-2016
requires that members of the STRP: (a) must not be directly or indirectly employed or engaged by a
company or institution with pending applications for pennits under JDC 01-2016; (b) must possess
technical expertise in food and nutrition, toxicology, ecology, crop protection, environmental science,
molecular biology and biotechnology, genetics, plant breeding, or animal nutrition; and (c) must be
well-respected in the scientific community.105

Below is a tabular presentation of the differences between the relevant portions of DAO 08-2002 and
JDC 01-2016:

DAO 08-2002 JDC 01-2016

1. As to coverage and government participation

WHEREAS, under Title IV, Chapter 4, Section ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

19 of the Administrative Code of 1987, the
Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau Section 1. Applicability. This Joint
of Plant Industry, is responsible for the Department Circular shall apply to the
production of improved planting materials and research, development, handling and use,
protection of agricultural crops from pests and transboundary movement, release into the
diseases; and environment, and management of genetically-
modified plant and plant products derived from
xxxx the use of modern biotechnology, included
under "regulated articles."
PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS xxxx

xxxx ARTICLE III. ADMINISTRATIVE

PART I FRAMEWORK
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 4. Role of National Government
xxxx Agencies Consistent with the NBF and the
laws granting their powers and functions,
Section 2 national government agencies shall have the
Coverage following roles:

A. Scope - This Order covers the importation A. [DA]. As the principal agency of the
or release into the environment of: 1. Any Philippine Government responsible for the
plant which has been altered or produced promotion of agricultural and rural growth and
through the use of modem biotechnology if the development so as to ensure food security
donor organism, host organism, or vector or and to contribute to poverty
vector agent belongs to any of the genera or
taxa classified by BPI as meeting the alleviation, the DA shall take the lead in
definition of plant pest or is a medium for the addressing biosafety issues related to the
introduction of noxious weeds; or country's agricultural productivity and food
security.x x x.
2. Any plant or plant product altered or
produced through the use of modern B. [DOST]. As the premier science and
biotechnology which may pose significant technology body in the country, the DOST
risks to human health and the environment shall take the lead in ensuring that the best
based on available scientific and technical available science is utilized and applied in
information. adopting biosafety policies, measures and
guidelines, and in making biosafety decision.
B. Exceptions. - This Order shall not apply to
the contained use of a regulated article, which x xx.
is within the regulatory supervision of NCBP.
C. [DENR]. As the primary government
agency responsible for the conservation
management, development and proper use of
the country's environment and natural
resources, the DENR shall ensure that
environmental assessments are done and
impacts identified in biosafety decisions. x x x.

D. [DOH]. The DOH, as the principal authority

on health, shall formulate guidelines in
assessing the health impacts posed by
modern biotechnology and its applications. x x
x.

E. [DILG]. The DILG shall coordinate with the

DA, DOST, DENR and DOH in overseeing the
implementation of this Circular in relation to
the activities that are to be implemented in
specific LGUs, particulady in relation to the
conduct of public consultations as required
under the Local Government Code. x x x.

2. As to guidelines in risk assessment

PART I ARTICLE II. BIOSAFETY DECISIONS

GENERAL PROVISIONS Section 3. Guidelines in Making Biosafety
Decisions
xxxx
The principles under the NBF shall guide
Section 3 concerned agencies in making biosafety
Risk Assessment decisions, including:

A. Principles of Risk Assessment - No xxxx

regulated article shall be allowed to be
imported or released into the environment B. Risk Assessment. Risk assessment shall
without the conduct of a risk assessment be mandatory and central in making biosafety
performed in accordance with this Order. The decisions, consistent with policies and
following principles shall be followed when standards on risk assessment issued by the
performing a risk assessment to determine NCBP; and guided by Annex III of the
whether a regulated article poses significant Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Pursuant to
risks to human health and the environment: the NBF, the following principles shall be
followed when performing a risk assessment
1. The risk assessment shall be carried out in to determine whether a regulated article poses
a scientifically sound and transparent manner significant risks to human health and the
based on available scientific and technical environment.
information. The expert advice of, and
guidelines developed by, relevant international 1. The risk assessment shall be carried out in
organizations and regulatory authorities of a scientifically sound and transparent manner
countries with significant experience in the based on available scientific and technical
regulatory supervision of the regulated article information. The expert advice of and
shall be taken into account in the conduct of guidelines developed by, relevant international
risk assessment. organizations, including intergovernmental
bodies, and regulatory authorities of countries
x x xx with significant experience in the regulatory
supervision of the regulated article shall be
taken into account. In the conduct of risk
assessment, CODEX Alimentarius Guidelines
on the Food Safety Assessment of Foods
Derived from the Recombinant-DNA Plants
shall internationally adopted as well as other
internationally accepted consensus
documents.

x x x x (Underscoring supplied)

3. As to public participation

PART III ARTICLE V. FIELD TRIAL OF REGULATED

APPROVAL PROCESS FOR FIELD ARTICLES
TESTING OF REGULATE ARTICLES
Section 12. Public Participation for Field
xxxx Trial

Section 8 A. The BPI shall make public all applications

and Biosafety Permits for Field Trial through
Requirements for Field Testing posting on the NCBP and BPI websites, and
in the offices of the DA and DOST in the
xxxx province, city, or municipality where the field
trial will be conducted.
G. Public Consultation. - The applicant, acting
through its IBC, shall notity and invite x x xx
comments on the field testing proposal from
the barangays and city/municipal
governments with jurisdiction over the field
test sites. The IBC shall post for three (3)
consecutive weeks copies of the Public
Information Sheet for Field Testing approved
by the BPI in at least three (3) conspicuous
places in each of the concerned barangay and
city/municipal halls. The Public Information
Sheet for Field Testing shall, among others,
invite interested parties to send their
comments on the proposed field testing to BPI
within a period of thirty (30) days from the
date of posting. It shall be m a language
understood in the community. During the
comment period, any interested person may
submit to BPI written comments regarding the
application. The applicant shall submit proof of
posting in the form of certifications from the
concerned barangay captains and
city/municipal mayors or an affidavit stating
the dates and places of posting duly executed
by the responsible officer or his duly
authorized representative.

4. As to membership in the Institutional Biosafety Committee

PART I ARTICLE III. ADMINISTRATIVE

GENERAL PROVISIONS
FRAMEWORK
Section 1
xxxx
Definition of Terms
Section 6. Institutional Biosafety
xxxx Committee

L. "IBC" means the Institutional Biosafety The company or institution applying for and
Committee established by an applicant in granted permits under this Circular shall
preparation for the field testing of a regulated constitute an IBC prior to the contained use,
article and whose membership has been confined test, or field trial of a regulated
approved by BPI. The JBC shall be article. The membership of the IBC shall be
responsible for the initial evaluation of the risk approved by the DOST-BC for contained use
assessment and risk management strategies or confined test, or by the DA-BC for field trial.
of the applicant for field testing. It shall be The IBC is responsible for the conduct of the
composed of at least five (5) members, three risk assessment and preparation of risk
(3) of whom shall be designated as "scientist- management strategies of the applicant for
members" who shall possess scientific and contained use, confined test, or field trial. It
technological knowledge and expertise shall make sure that the environment and
sufficient to enable them to evaluate and human health are safeguarded in the conduct
monitor properly any work of the applicant of any activity involving regulated articles.
relating to the field testing of a regulated
article. The other members, who shall be The IBC shall be composed of at least five (5)
designated as "community representatives", members, three (3) of whom shall be
shall not be affiliated with the applicant apart designated, as scientist-members and two (2)
from being members of its IBC and shall be in members shall be community representatives.
a position to represent the interests of the All scientist-members must possess scientific
communities where the field testing is to be or technological knowledge and expertise
conducted. For the avoidance of doubt, NCBP sufficient to enable them to property evaluate
shall be responsible for approving the and monitor any work involving regulated
membership of the IBC for contained use of a articles conducted by the applicant.
regulated article.
The community regresentative must not be
x x x x (Underscoring supplied) affiliated with the applicant, and must be in a
position to regresent the interests of the
communities where the activities are to be
conducted. One of the community
regresentatives shall be an elected official of
the LGU. The other community representative
shall be selected from the residents who are
 members of the Civil Society Organizations
represented in the Local Poverty Reduction
Action Team, pursuant to DILG Memorandum
Circular No. 2015-45. For multi-location trials,
community representatives of the IBC shall be
designated per site. x x x. (Underscoring
supplied)

5. As to the composition and qualifications of the members of the Scientific and

Technical Review

Panel

PART I ARTICLE III. ADMINISTRATIVE

GENERAL PROVISIONS FRAMEWORK

Section 1 xxxx

Definition of Terms Section 7. Scientific and Technical Review

Panel (STRP) The DA shall create a Scientific
xxxx and Technical Review Panel composed of a
pool of non-DA scientists with expertise in the
EE. "STRP" means the Scientific and evaluation of the potential risks of regulated
Technical Review Panel created by BPI as an articles to the environment and health. x x x
advisory body, composed of at least three
(3) reputable and independent scientists who xxxx
shall not be employees of the Department and
who have the relevant professional The DA shall select scientists/experts in the
background necessary to evaluate the STRP, who shall meet the following
potential risks of the proposed activity to qualifications:
human health and the environment based on
available scientific and technical information. A. Must not be an official, staff or employee of
the DA or any of its attached agencies;
x x x x (Underscoring supplied)
B. Must not be directly or indirectly employed
or engaged by a company or institution with
pending applications for permits covered by
this Circular;

C. Possess technical expertise in at least one

of the following fields: food and nutrition;
toxicology, ecology, crop protection,
environmental science, molecular biology and
biotechnology, genetics, plant breeding,
animal nutrition; and

D. Well-respected in the scientific community

as evidenced by positions held in science-
based organizations, awards and
recognitions, publications in local and
 international peer-reviewed scientific journals.

x x x x (Underscoring supplied)

Based on the foregoing, it is apparent that the regulatory framework now applicable in conducting
risk assessment in matters involving the research, development, handling, movement, and release
into the environment of genetically modified plant and plant products derived from the use of modem
biotechnology is substantially different from that which was applied to the subject field trials. In this
regard, it cannot be said that the present case is one capable of repetition yet evading review.

The essence of cases capable of repetition yet evading review was succinctly explained by the Court
in Belgica v. Ochoa, Jr.,106 where the constitutionality of the Executive Department's lump-sum,
discretionary funds under the 2013 General Appropriations Act, known as the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF), was assailed. In that case, the Court rejected the view that the issues
related thereto had been rendered moot and academic by the reforms undertaken by the Executive
Department and former President Benigno Simeon S. Aquino III's declaration that he had already
"abolished the PDAF." Citing the historical evolution of the ubiquitous Pork Barrel System, which was
the source of the PDAF, and the fact that it has always been incorporated in the national budget
which is enacted annually, the Court ruled that it is one capable of repetition yet evading review,
thus:

Finally, the application of the fourth exception [to the rule on mootness] is called for by
the recognition that the preparation and passage of the national budget is, by constitutional
imprimatur, an affair of annual occurrence. The relevance of the issues before the Court does not
cease with the passage of a "PDAF-free budget for 2014." The evolution of the "Pork Barrel
System," by its multifarious iterations throughout the course of history, lends a semblance of
truth to petitioners' claim that "the same dog will just resurface wearing a different
collar." In Sanlakas v. Executive Secretary, the government had already backtracked on a previous
course of action yet the Court used the "capable of repetition but evading review" exception in order
"[t]o prevent similar questions from re-emerging." The situation similarly holds true to these cases.
Indeed, the myriad of issues underlying the manner in which certain public funds are spent, if not
resolved at this most opportune time, are capable of repetition and hence; must not evade judicial
review.107 (Emphases supplied)

Evidently, the "frequent" and "routinary" nature of the Pork Barrel Funds and the PDAF are wanting
herein. To reiterate, the issues in these cases involve factual considerations which are peculiar only
to the controversy at hand since the petition for Writ of Kalikasan is specific to the field testing of Bt
talong and does not involve other GMOs.

At this point, the Court discerns that there are two (2) factors to be considered before a case is
deemed one capable of repetition yet evading review: (1) the challenged action was in its duration
too short to be fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration; and (2) there was a reasonable
expectation that the same complaining party would be subjected to the same action.

Here, respondents cannot claim that the duration of the subject field tests was too short to be fully
litigated. It must be emphasized that the Biosafety Permits for the subject field tests were issued on
March 16, 2010 and June 28, 2010, and were valid for two (2) years. However, as aptly pointed out
by Justice Leonen, respondents filed their petition for Writ of Kalikasan only on April 26, 2012 - just a
few months before the Biosafety Permits expired and when the field testing activities were already
over.108 Obviously, therefore, the cessation of the subject field tests before the case could be
resolved was due to respondents' own inaction.
Moreover, the situation respondents complain of is not susceptible' to repetition. As discussed
above, DAO 08-2002 has already been superseded by JDC 01-2016. Hence, future applications for
field testing will be governed by JDC 01-2016 which, as illustrated, adopts a regulatory framework
that is substantially different from that of DAO 08-2002.

Therefore, it was improper for the Court to resolve the merits of the case which had become moot in
view of the absence of any valid exceptions to the rule on mootness, and to thereupon rule on the
objections against the validity and consequently nullify DAO 08-2002 under the premises of the
precautionary principle.

In fact, in relation to the latter, it is observed that the Court should not have even delved into the
constitutionality of DAO 08-2002 as it was merely collaterally challenged by respondents, based
on the constitutional precepts of the people's rights to infonnation on matters of public concern, to
public participation, to a balanced and healthful ecology, and to health.109 A cursory perusal of the
petition for Writ of Kalikasan filed by respondents on April 26, 2012 before the Court shows that they
essentially assail herein petitioners' failure to: (a) fully infom1 the people regarding the health,
environment, and other hazards involved;110 and (b) conduct any valid risk assessment before
conducting the field trial.111 However, while the provisions of DAO 08-2002 were averred to be
inadequate to protect (a) the constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology
since "said regulation failed, among others, to anticipate 'the public implications caused by the
importation of GMOs in the Philippines"';112and (b) "the people from the potential harm these
genetically modified plants and genetically modified organisms may cause human health and the
environment, [and] thus, x x x fall short of Constitutional compliance,"113 respondents merely prayed
for its amendment, as well as that of the NBF, to define or incorporate "an independent, transparent,
and comprehensive scientific and socio-economic risk assessment, public information, consultation,
and participation, and providing for their effective implementation, in accord with international safety
standards[.]"114 This attempt to assail the constitutionality of the public info1mation and consultation
requirements under DAO 08-2002 and the NBF constitutes a collateral attack on the said provisions
of law that runs afoul of the wdlsettled rule that the constitutionality of a statute cannot be collaterally
attacked as constitutionality issues must be pleaded directly and not collaterally.115 Verily, the policy
of the courts is to avoid ruling on constitutional questions and to presume that the acts of the political
departments are valid, absent a clear and unmistakable showing to the contrary, in deference to the
doctrine of separation of powers. This means that the measure had first been carefuliy studied by
the executive department and found to be in accord with the Constitution before it was finally
enacted and approved.116

All told, with respondents' petition for Writ of Kalikasan already mooted by the expiration of the
Biosafoty Permits and the completion of the field trials subject of these cases, and with none of the
exceptions to the mootness principle properly attending, the Court grants the instant motions for
reconsideration and hereby dismisses the aforesaid petition. With this pronouncement, no
discussion on the substantive merits of the same should be made.

WHEREFORE, the motions for reconsideration are GRANTED. The Decision dated December 8,
2015 of the Court, which affirmed with modification the Decision dated May 17, 2013 and the
Resolution dated September 20, 2013 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 00013, is
hereby SET ASIDE for the reasons above-explained. A new one is ENTERED DISMISSING the
Petition for Writ of Continuing Mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan with Prayer for the Issuance of a
Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) filed by respondents Greenpeace Southeast
Asia (Philippines), Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura, and others on the
ground of mootness.

SO ORDERED.
ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO

Chief Justice

ANTONIO T. CARPIO* PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.

Associate Justice Associate Justice

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO ARTURO D. BRION

Associate Justice Associate Justice

DIOSDADO M. PERALTA LUCAS P. BERSAMIN

Associate Justice Associate Justice

MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ

Associate Justice Associate Justice

JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA BIENVENIDO L. REYES

Associate Justice Associate Justice

See Separate Concurring Opinion No Part

MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN FRANCIS H. JARDELEZA**
Associate Justice Associate Justice

ALFREDO BENJAMIN S. CAGUIOA

Associate Justice

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to the Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation,
I certify that the conclusions in the above Resolution been reached in consultation before the case
was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

MARIA LOURDES P.A. SERENO

Chief Justice

Footnotes

*
No part.

**
No part.
1
See (I) motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Croplife Philippines, Inc. January 5,
2016 (rollo [G.R. No. 209276], Vol. IX, pp. 4681-4718); (2) E-Parte Manifestation with MR
filed by ISAAA on January 7, 2016 (id. at 4746-4778); (3) MR filed by intervenor
Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, Inc. on January 14, 2016 (id. at 4785-
4835); (4) MR filed by Environmei1tal Management Bureau, the Bureau of Plant Industty,
imd the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority on January 14, 2016 (id. at 4836-4863); (5) Urgent
Motion to Intervene (with [MR]-in-Intervention) filed by Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng
Agham at Teknolohiya parasa Mamamayan (AGHAM) on Febrnary 2, 2016 (id.at 4903-
4922); (6) MR filed by the University of the Philippines on Febrnary 2, 2016 (id. at 4945-
4952); (7) MR filed by UPLBFl on February 3, 2016 (id. at 4953-4980); (8) Petition/[MR]-
inIntervention filed by Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc. on February 16, 2016 (id. at
4998-5027); and (9) Manifestation filed by Edgar C. Talasan, et al. (Farmers) on January 20,
2016 adopting the arguments of the other petitioners in their respective MRs (id. at 4897-
4902).

2
In G.R. Nos. 209271, 209276, 209301, and 209430. Id. at 4530-4636.

3
Rollo (G.R. No. 209271), Vol. I, pp. 135-159. Penned by Associate Justice Isaias P.
Dicdican with Associate Justices Myra V, Garcia-Fernandez and Nina G. Antonio-Valenzueia
concurring.

4
Id. at 161-174.

5
Dated September 24, 2010. CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 82-84, including dorsal portions.

6
See id. at 131. See also rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4539-4540.

7
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4540. See Letter dated March 30, 2009 and
Certificate of Completion of Contained Experiment issued on the same date; CA rollo, Vol. II,
pp. 885-886.

8
Entitled "CONSTITUTING THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON BIOSAFETY OF THE
PHILIPPINES (NCBP) AND FOR OTHER PORPOSES" (October 15, 1990).

9
See Sections 4 (a) and 4 (b) of EO 430.

See Certificate of Completion of Contained Experiment dated March 30, 2009.

10

CA rollo, Vol. II, p. 886.

11
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p.4540.

12
CA rollo, Vol. II, pp. 1058. 1064.

13
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4540.

Entitled "RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPORTATION AND RELEASE INTO
14

THE ENVIRONMENT OF PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM THE USE
OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY," adopted on April 3, 2002.

15
See Biosafety Pennits; CA rollo, Vol. II, pp. 1058-1064.
16
Rollo (G,R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4539.

17
Id. at 4540.

18
CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 2-69.

19
Entitled "PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY" dated June 16, 1977.

20
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4539-4540.

21
Id. at 4541.

22
Id. at 4540.

23
See id. at 4541.

See Resolution dated May 2, 2012 signed by Clerk of Court Enriqueta E. Vidal;
24

CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 400-401.

25
It appears from the records that UPLB was not included as one of the parties who was
issued Writ of Kalikasan nor furnished with a copy of the petition filed by respondents. (See
Resolution dated August 17, 2012 of the CA; CA rollo, Vol. III, pp. 2114-2116. See also
Transcript of Stenographic Notes [TSN] dated August 14, 2012, pp. 4-8.)

26
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4542.

It appears from the December 8, 2015 De(:ision, the Court inadvertently omitted UPMFI
27

and UPLBFI as parties who were served of the Writ of Kalikasan. Also, UPLB was
unintentionally included as one of the parties who were served the same. See id.

28
See Verified Return [of the Writ of Kalikasan dated 02 May 2012] with Opposition to the
Application for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) filed by ISAAA on May
21, 2012 (CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 437-544); Return of the Writ filed by EMB, BPI, and FPA on
May 29, 2012 (CA rollo, Vol. II, pp. 1266-1344); Return filed by UPLBFI on May 28, 2012
(CA rollo, Vol. III, pp. 2009-2077); and Return of the Writ filed by UPMFI on July 6, 2012
(CA rollo, Vol. III, pp. 2081-2090).

29
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4543-4544. See also rollo (G.R. No. 209271), Vol.
I; pp. 141-143.

30
CA rollo, Vol. III, pp. 2100-2101.

31
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4544.

See TSN dated August 14, 2012, pp. 4-17 and 45. See also CA Resolution dated August
32

17, 2012; CA rollo, Vol. II, pp. 2114-2116.

33
CA rollo, Vol. III, pp. 2120-2123.

34
CA rollo, Vol. V, pp. 3618-3619.
35
Rollo (G.R. No. 209271), Vol. I, pp. 135-159.

36
Id. at 157-158.

37
Id. at 145.

38
Section 1, Rule 20 of the Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases provides:

RULE 20
PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

Section 1. Applicability. - When there is a Jack of full scientific certainty in

establishing a causal link between human activity and environmental effect, the court
shall apply the precautionary principle in resolving the case before it. The
constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology shall be given
the benefit of the doubt.

Administrative Matter No. 09-6-8-SC dated April 13, 2010, which became effective on April
39

29, 2010.

See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 454). See also rollo (G.R. No. 209271, Vol. I, pp.
40

146-152.

41
See BPI, EMB, and FPA's motion for reconsideration (MR) dated June 5, 2013
(CA rollo, Vol. V, pp. 3860-3888); ISAAA's MR datt:d June 11, 2013 {id. at 3893-3946);
TJPLB's MR dated June 10, 2013 (id. at 3949-3958); and UPLBFI's MR dated June 10, 2013
(id. at 3961-3963).

42
Rollo (G.R. No. 209271), Vol. I, pp. 161-174.

43
Id. at 168. See also rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4546.

Rollo (G.R. No. 209271), Vol. T, pp. 166-167. See also roilo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p.
44

4546.

In G.R. Nos. 209271, 209276, 209301, and 209430. See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX,
45

pp. 4530-4636.

46
See id. at 4634.

47
See id. at 4630-4633.

Id. at 4570, citing Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon v. Francisco, Sr., 678 Phil.
48

679, 690 (2011). 0

Entitled "ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORK, PRESCRIBING

49

GUIDELINES FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION, STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL

COMMITTEE ON BIOSAFETY OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR 0THTIR PURPOSES,"
approved on March 17, 2006.
 "Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the United Nations Convention on Biological
50

Diversity," signed by the Philippines on May 24, 2000 and entered into force on September
11, 2003.

51
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4619-4623.

52
See id. at 4623-4624.

53
Id. at 4634.

54
See motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Croplife Philippines, Inc. January 5,
2016 (rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4681-4718); E-Parte Manifestation with MR filed
by ISAAA on January 7, 2016 (id. at 4746-4778); MR filed by intervenor Biotechnology
Coalition of the Philippines, Inc. on January 14, 2016 (id. at 4785-4835); MR filed by EMB,
BPI, and FPA on January 14, 2016 (id. at 4836-4863); Urgent Motion to Intervene (with [MR]-
in-Intervention) filed by Alyansa ng niga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa
Mamamayan (AGHAM) on February 2, 2016 (id.at 4903-4922); MR filed by the University of
the Philippines on February 2, 2016 (id. at 4945-4952); MR filed by UPLBFI on Februaiy 3,
2016 (id. at 4953-4980); and Petition/M[MR]-in-Intervention fileo by Philippine Association of
Feed Millers, Inc. on February 16, 2016 (id. at 4998-5027). See also Manifestation filed by
Edgar C. Talasan, et al. (Fanners) on January 20, 2016 adopting the arguments of the other
petitioners in their respective MRs (id. at 4897-4902).

55
See id. at 4945-494 7.

See id. at 4687-4690, 4754-4760, 4787-4791, 4844-4853, 4871-4875, 4911-4916, 4950-

56

4978, and 5012-5015.

57
See id. at 4690-4696, 4767-4772, and 4885-4889.

58
See Consolidated Comment and Opposition to Motion for Reconsideration of UP and
UPLBFI and Motions for Reconsideration-in-Intervention of AGHAM Partylist dated April 12,
2016 (id. at 5054-5067) und Consolidated Comment and Opposition to Motions for
Reconsideration of ISAAA, EMBDENR, Et. Al. and Motions for Reconsideration-in-
Intervention of BCP, Croplife, and PAFMI dated April 26, 2016 (id. at 5087-5099) both filed
by respondents; and Consolidated Comment dated May 2, 2016 filed by
intcrvenors Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), Sibdl ng
Agham at Tecknolohiya (SIBAT), Consumer Rights for Safe Food, Earth Elements, Inc., and
Organic Producers & Trace Assrn;:iation Philippines, Inc. (id. at S 108-5129).

59
Sec id. at 5057-5058.

60
See id. at 5058-5060 and 5088-5089.

61
See id. at 5062-5063.

62
Atty. Formento v. Estrada, 643 Phil. 735, 738 (2010).

63
Id.

64
Id. at 739.
65
Belgica v. Ochoa, Jr., 721 Phil. 416, 522 (2013).

66
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4570.

67
137 Phil. 471 (1969).

Entitled "AN Act to Amend Republic Act NUMBERED ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY,
68

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE REVISED ELECTION CODE', BY LIMITING THE PERIOD

OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN, lNSERTING FOR THIS PURPOSE NEW SECTIONS THEREIN
TO BE KNOWN AS SECTIONS 50-A AND 50-B AND AMENDING SECTION ONE
HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE OF THE SAME CODE" (June 17, 1967).

69
Gonzales v. Commission on Elections, supra note 67, at 489-490,

70
De Castro v. Commission on Elections, 335 Phil. 462 (1997);

71
Sec id. at 465-466, citing De Mesa v. Mencias, 124 Phil. 1187, 1192-1193 (1966).

72
522 Phil. 705 (2006).

Entitled "PROCLAMATION DECLARING ASTA TE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY" dated

73

February 24, 2006.

74
David v. Macapagal-Arroyo, supra note 72, at 752-755.

75
559 Phil. 622 (2007).

76
Entitled "ANTI-GRAFT AND CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT" (August 17, 1960).

77
See Constantino v. Sandiganbayan, supra note 75, at 635-636.

78
726 Phil. 63 (2014)

79
See id. 76-77.

80
See id. at 77-79.

81
See id. at 80-83.

82
See id. at 4661.

83
Id. at 4660.

84
The three (3) stages are: (1) Contained Use, where research on the regulated article is
limited inside a physical containment facility for purposes of laboratory experimentation; (2)
Field Testing, where the regulated articles are intentionally inhuduced to the environment in
a highly regulated manner for experimental purposes; and (3) Propagation, where the
regulated article is introduced to commerce. Id. at 4661-4662.

85
Id. at 4662.
86
See Section 9, Part IV of DAO 08-2002.

87
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, pp. 4659-4678.

88
Id. at 4663.

Entitled "RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT,

89

HANDLING AND USE, TRANS130lJNDARY MOVEMENT, RELEASE INTO THE

ENVIRONMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF GE.N'ETICALLY-MODIFIED PLANT AND
PLANT PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM THE USE OF MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY,"
published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation on March 30, 2016.

90
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4570.

91
See id. at 4661-4663. See also CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 20-23 and 56-65.

92
See CA rollo, Vol. I, p. 55.

93
Id. at 58.

94
Rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4663.

95
Id. at 4623.

96
See id. at 4621-4623.

97
Id. at 4619.

98
See Sec. 3 (A), Part I of DAO 08-2002.

99
See Sec. 3 (B), Article II, in relation to Section l, Article I, of the JDC 01-2016.

100
See penultimate preambular paragraph and Section 2 (A), Part I of DAO 08-2002.

101
See Sec. 4, Article III of the JDC 01-2016.

102
See Sec. 12 (A), Article V ofthe JDC 01-2016.

103
See Sec. 6, Article III of the JDC 01-2016.

104
See Sec. 1 (L) Part I of DAO 08-2002.

105
See Sec. 7, Article III of the JDC 01-2016.

106
Supra note 65.

107
Id. at 524-525; citations omitted.

108
See rollo (G.R. No. 209276), Vol. IX, p. 4659.
 109
See CA rollo, Vol. I, pp. 44-45 and 50.

110
Id. at 55.

111
Id. at 58.

112
Id. at 57-58.

113
Id. at 56.

114
Id. at 68.

See Vivas v. The Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 716 Phil. 132, 153
115

(2013).

See ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. v. Philippine Multi-Media System, Inc., 596 Phil. 283,
116

312 (2009), citing Spouses Mirasol v. CA, 403 Phil. 760, 774 (2001).

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