Belmonte vows support to community pantry
QUEZON City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte on Tuesday assured the initiator of the community pantry of her full support as she asked the leadership of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) to investigate reports the latter was red-tagged by lawmen.
Belmonte said she reached out to Ana Patricia Non, the woman behind the community pantry initiative along Maginhawa Street that went viral on social media and assured her of her safety.
“I personally assured her and other like-minded individuals that the local government fully supports community pantries,” Belmonte said.
“Indeed, these initiatives highlight the bayanihan spirit inherent in our country. The city government will therefore ensure the organizers and beneficiaries of community pantries remain safe and unimpeded,” she added.
Non sought the mayor’s intervention after announcing she was temporarily closing the community pantry she initiated after she was said to have been red-tagged by lawmen who reportedly asked her to fill up a form as they demanded for her cellular phone numbers.
Saying she only wanted to help when she came out by herself with the idea of putting up the community pantry more than a week ago, Non said she feared for her life.
QCPD director BGen. Antonio Yarra said he was “clueless” about the red-tagging incident.
For several days now, Belmonte said the Task Force Disiplina and barangay (village) leaders have maintained peace and order in the Maginhawa community pantry.
“They are only there to help remind the public about observing minimum health standards and to assist in controlling any crowds that may form,” the mayor said.
“In these difficult times, let us allow kindness and selflessness to prevail. Let’s all help one another,” she said.