Public officials and environmental group Greenpeace asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to stop the field testing of genetically modified eggplant, a variety they said can cause damage to human health and natural vegetation. Specifically, the petitioners which also include Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teodoro Casiño asked the Court to issue a writ of kalikasan, which is a legal remedy to address environmental concerns. [...] The Philippines has a recorded 500 varieties of eggplant and related species. With its built-in insect-resistance gene, Bt eggplant poses risks of creating aggressive weeds that may wreak havoc to local agriculture and natural habitats, said Daniel Ocampo, sustainable agriculture campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.