COMMUNITY pantry pioneer Ana Patricia Non on Friday, April 23, 2021, hoped President Rodrigo Duterte would stop the red-tagging and allow community pantries to continue operations in peace and without fear.
“Sana nga po maglabas po ng statement si President Duterte about community pantries na hayaan niya po kami na mag-exist nang mapayapa ng walang pangamba. Sana po ‘wag po i-tolerate ni President Duterte ‘yung ginagawa pong pagre-redtag sa akin. Kasi ang dami na pong namamatay sa red-tagging talaga po and delikado siya eh,” Non said in a television interview.
She brushed aside allegations of the National Task Force to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict and Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy.
“Ayaw ko pong patulan kasi gusto ko mag-focus sa community pantry. Lahat ng information, walang tumama po,” she added.
Non said several lawyers have advised and assured her of support in case she wants to take legal action against red-tagging.
The Maginhawa Community Pantry along Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, which Non launched on April 14, 2021 to provide food supplies and other necessities to indigent Filipinos, serves an average of 500 people a day.
It has been widely replicated across Metro Manila and in other parts of the country. In Quezon City alone, the City Government earlier said at least 70 community pantries have been set up.
The red-tagging had forced Non to suspend the community pantry on April 19 to ensure her and the volunteers’ safety. The pantry resumed operations the next day. (SunStar Philippines)