Ana Patricia Non denies link with Reds, says mom red-tagged too

The proponent of Maginhawa Community Pantry has denied connection with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) following red-tagging allegations hurled against her.

"Sa totoo lang po, wala akong link sa Communist Party. And napaka, pasensya na po, napakadumi po ng question na ‘yan (Honestly, I have no links with the Communist Party. I'm sorry but that's really an inappropriate question)," Ana Patricia Non, whose community pantry sprouted many pantries across the country, told a reporter in an online press conference.

Non pointed out that explaining herself should be the "last thing" she would do in leading the community pantry because her intention in doing so is "clear" and made in good faith.

"Gusto ko lang po may ma-i-set up na community pantry and makakain ang mga tao (I just want to set up a pantry to help feed the people)," she said.

"So between me and other people... tingin ko hindi dapat ako ang nag-eexplain, ano ba ako, sino ba ako. Kasi malinaw ang intensyon ko una pa lang... Wala akong kasama (I think, I shouldn't be explaining who I am. Because my intention was clear when I started this. I even had no companions)," she added, as she called on the public to stop doing "this accusation" because it is "dangerous."

Non also revealed her mother was also dragged and being red-tagged. But she added her mother, who was a social worker, was already "used to it."

"Wala po kaming takot sa ganyan. Pero ‘yung iniisip lang po namin ‘yung energy natin dapat hindi nakatuon sa red-tagging (We don't fear any red-tagging. Our energy shouldn't be wasted on that)," she said."'Yung red-tagging po ay pamumulitika. At pinapahamak po talaga nila kami and madami pong nagsa-suffer...pati nga po 'yung mga taong (natutulungan) (Red-tagging is part of politicking. And it endangers us. Many are suffering because of it, including those people our community pantry is helping)," she added.