General santos city--"They took the law into their hands as a sign of protest against the entry of Bt corn in Tampakan, but this is a clear example of mob rule, an anarchy, which has no respect for law and order." This was the comment of Chief Supt.Manuel T. Raval, Central Mindanao police director, on the vandalism committed by some 500 communist-backed farmers who stormed for genetically modified (GMO) corn in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Police said the farmers uprooted the controversial Bt corn plants as terrified the landowner and farm technicians looked on helplessly. Raval said policemen of the Tampakan Police Office were set to file criminal charges Thursday against members of the militant Bayan Muna group for allegedly destroying the Bt corndemonstration farm owned by Adelina Abazo. (Earlier reports stated that the raiders belong to the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas.) "Criminal charges will be filed against the intruders headed by Nilo Vargas, alias "Onyok Galilo," and Rosalie Felicidadonce the pieces of evidence are secured by the Tampakan police," Raval said in a long-distance phone interview.
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