DUTERTE LEADS SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PANTRIES
COMMUNITY pantries have gotten the nod from President Rodrigo Duterte and other sectors for helping Filipinos severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and were assured of support amid red-tagging fears raised by their owners.
“Nagsalita na po tayo bilang bibig ng
Presidente, nagsalita na po ang kalihim ng DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government). Welcome po natin ‘yung mga community pantries (We have spoken as the President’s mouthpiece; the secretary of DILG has spoken. We welcome community
pantries),” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said during a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.
Roque said community pantries exemplify the best of the Filipino character in times of challenges.
“Sa panig po ng Presidente, sa panig po ng DILG malinaw po, iniencourage po natin at binibigyan puri natin ang mga mamamayan natin na sumasapi diyan sa community pantries (On the side of the President and the DILG, we are encouraging and praising citizens joining the work of community pantries),” he said.
Roque issued the statement a day after some community pantries set up by private individuals temporarily stopped operations after the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), on social media, shared posts linking them to communist rebels.
He said Duterte wanted officials of the NTF-Elcac, to refrain from impeding efforts being carried out by organizers of these community pantries.
“I think the President has spoken through my office. The [DILG] has spoken. Unless their concern is about health protocols being observed, they should leave these community pantries alone,” he said.
Roque noted that Interior Secretary Eduardo Año himself ordered police and local government officials not to interfere with operations of community pantries.
“Nilinaw na rin ng DILG na wala pong basbas ‘yung red-tagging na ‘yan (The DILG has already clarified that the red-tagging does not have their blessing),” he said.
Asked if Duterte would order NTF-Elcac officials to stop sharing posts, Roque said their thoughts were still part of the “free marketplace of ideas.”
‘Abuse of police power’
Lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia, spokesman for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), also lauded the initiative of the communities for setting up these pantries, saying, “In times of uncertainty, Filipinos have come together to help one another to overcome adversity. The community pantry is an example of the exemplary spirit of bayanihan (cooperation) to make-up for the gaps of government action in addressing the long-term adverse effects of the pandemic.”
De Guia said collecting data and profiling of community pantry organizers represented “abuse of police power bereft of any statutory or legal basis” and an “encroachment upon the right to privacy of citizens.”
Bishop Virgilio David of Kalookan, vice president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on government authorities to stop the “red-tagging.”
Although David did not name names, he was alluding to some members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as well as the anticommunist task force of the government.
“‘Bayanihan’ is not a crime,” David said. “Aren’t you thankful that people are voluntarily helping each other?”
“You can also take what you need and give what you can,” he added.
The Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) also joined the snowballing support to community pantries and challenged authorities to “join and be a part” of the initiative “instead of harassing, maligning and belittling these community efforts.”
“After all, power has been given to you for you to serve, not be served,” the AMRSP said in a statement.
In defense of PNP
The PNP, however, said it saw nothing wrong with the presence of its men in the community pantries since their only interest was to serve and help ensure that public safety was observed.
BGen. Ronaldo Olay, PNP spokesman, issued the statement in Filipino during the Laging Handa Public press briefing on Wednesday.
Olay said the presence of policemen in the community pantries was an order coming from their respective ground commanders to help lessen the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring observance of minimum public health protocols such as the proper wearing of face masks, face shields, and physical distancing. He claimed that police would only serve as “neutralizers” when the queue becomes disorganized.
Olay clarified that the policemen’s data gathering was for the PNP to set contacts and ties with them for succeeding activities.
He stressed that PNP was now coordinating with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group to investigate alleged reports of red-tagging against the community pantry organizers online as well as local police personnel who asked information about their affiliations to any group.
Olay, meanwhile, confirmed the report that some organizers of the community pantries in Quezon City were spreading pamphlets with contents of overthrowing the current administration.
He said the police wouldn’t want this to happen because it will “color” the true spirit of bayanihan.
Metro mayors’ support
Metro Manila mayors expressed support for the community pantries that have sprung in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte on Wednesday welcomed the grassroots initiative, which originated in her city, while reminding the anti-communist task force not to “sow fear.”
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he was “inspired” by the initiative to strengthen the city’s Food Security Program, while saying that the project needed no permit.
Pasig Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto “commended and welcomed the individuals who are helping as they can afford [it].”
San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said it was always “nice to see people with more blessings sharing to those who are less fortunate.”
Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro also said the community pantry should be left “unregulated.”
Pasay Mayor Imelda CalixtoRubiano on Wednesday said the project reflects the “spirit of Bayanihan among Filipinos.”
Ana Patricia Non, who pioneered the grassroots initiative in the form of the Maginhawa Community Pantry, temporarily suspended her operations on Tuesday, April 20, citing security threats and “red tagging” from state forces. The community pantry resumed operations the next day, April 21.
House probe
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives sought an investigation into the alleged harassment, profiling and red-tagging of community pantry organizers and volunteers.
Bayan Muna party-list Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite and Eufemia Cullamat; ACT Teachers partylist Rep. France Castro; Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas; and Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago filed a resolution asking the House Committee on Human Rights to investigate “in aid of legislation on the alleged harassment, profiling and red-tagging of community pantry organizers.
“Members of Congress, as representatives of the people, are duty-bound to ensure the constitutional right of the people are protected and upheld. The organizers and volunteers who initiate the delivery of aid to the less privilege [d] do not deserve to be subjected to harassment and baseless accusations from the government…” the resolution read.