Amid red-tagging woes, Maginhawa community pantry organizer says the work will, and needs to, go on
The organizer of the seminal Maginhawa community pantry pleaded for understanding, compassion, as well as focus on the work ahead, following the string of red-tagging accusations they have received from authorities that have forced them to stop operations today for fear of their safety.
In a Zoom press conference, Ana Patricia Non, who started the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City, said they will resume on Wednesday, April 21. This is after Non suspended the operations of the pantry today after she said it was red-tagged by a social media page of a government office.
“Tuloy pa rin po. Kailangan ko lang i-ensure yung safety po namin, lalo na ng mga volunteers and even po yung mga pumipili. Hindi po kasi biro ang red-tagging,” Non said in a press conference today.
Non announced on her Facebook page the temporary stoppage today after the Quezon City Police District, with whom they have worked with in the pantry, put out a post red-tagging the community pantry. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) likewise made a post linking the community pantries sprouting across the country to the communist movement.
Non lamented QCPD's post as she said that their police personnel have been on site at the Maginhawa community pantry, assisting them, with the organizers even sending some cops foodstuffs and other items from the pantry to take home.
“Nalungkot ako kasi magkakasama tayo, e. Ilang araw tayong magkakasama. Ilang araw na tayong nagtutulungan. Pwede nyo naman ako kausapin na,” Non said during the press conference
Non pleaded for the red-tagging to stop as it only distracts them and the countless other community pantries in the country from the important task to be done, that is attending to the needs of the hungry and in need.
“Gusto kong malinaw na hindi ito mauulit, kahit na saang community pantry,” said Non
Though Non said she is not connected to communist groups, she maintained that she, nor any community pantry organizer, should be compelled to divulge their background as their intention is only to help.
“Last thing na kailangan ko, i-explain sa mga tao is kung ano ako, sino ba ako. Kasi, ang malinaw, ang intensyon ko, gusto ko lang may mai-set up na community pantry and makakain yung mga tao na pantawid-gutom,” she said. “Between me and other people na nagkulang ng response, tingin ko hindi ako yung dapat nag-e-explain kung ano ba ako.”
“Kasi kung hindi po kayo tutulong, wala po kayong ia-ambag sa mga tao, hindi ninyo sila kikilalanin, mas mabuti na lang po na wag na lang tayong magsalita ng ganitong mga bagay kasi ilang pamilya po ang naaapekthan, hindi po ako,” added Non.
Though Non said that "donor fatigue" may eventually set in after some time, she expressed optimism that the program will continue as long as the pantry is allowed to operate. She also lamented the possibility of compelling pantry organizers to secure a permit, as this would only distract them from their work and intention to help.
Despite the red-tagging and the safety issues they have faced, Non said she remains steadfast in sustaining the operations.
"Itutuloy po namin kasi mas marami yung mga nangangailangan kaysa sa mga bumabatikos," said Non.
Non said that requiring community pantries to get permits from the local government may not be efficient.
"Inadvertent post"
In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that “the local government of Quezon City fully supports Community Pantries.”
Belmonte said she has reached out to Non to discuss her concerns about safety and security, and has ordered QCPD District Brigadier General Antonio Yarra to investigate the matter.
“In these difficult times, let us allow kindness and selflessness to prevail,” Belmonte said.
The QCPD has also issued a statement apologizing over “the inadvertent (Facebook) post,” and said they are now reaching out to the organizers to extend their support.
"Free market of ideas"
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in the televised briefing today that the president is supportive of the effort.
"Yan po ay pinupuri ng ating president," said Roque.
Regarding the red-tagging issue, he noted that the Department of Interior and Local Government "has ordered the police not to meddle in the operations of community pantries except when there is a need to enforce them."
Roque, however, stopped short of telling off agencies such as the NTF-ELCAC from red-tagging the community pantry organizers.
"That is part of free market of ideas. Kahit ano sabihin nila, pag nakikinabang ang taumbayan diyan, maniniwala pa rin ang mga kababayan sa community pantries," said Roque
Banner photo by Philippine Star/Michael de Guzman
