MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte welcomes the emergence of community pantries in the country amid the surge in cases of coronavirus disease 2019, the Malacañang said on Tuesday.
However, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque warned that the Philippine National Police (PNP) should not interfere. This directive came after some organizers of community pantries were reportedly “red-tagged.”
“I think the President has spoken through my office, unless their concern is about health protocols not being observed, they should leave these community pantries alone,” Roque said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it did not order the PNP to look into community pantries after Ana Patricia Non, organizer of the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City, said she was questioned by local authorities.
“I have not ordered the PNP to look into the community pantries around the country,” DILG secretary Eduardo Año said.
“As to the issue of whether organizers are required to secure barangay permits, organizers should consult with the concerned barangays if such is required,” he added.
Non halted her operation after three policemen asked for her contact number and asked which organization she belongs to.
According to her, the initiative was tagged as allegedly supported and advocated by progressive groups Kilusang Mayo Uno and Piston which were classified by National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict as “communist terrorist organizations.”
It was not only the Maginhawa community pantry that suffered the red-tagging. Other community pantries across the country were also being linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines./PN
