The Philippine National Police (PNP) denied on Tuesday, April 20, that its personnel have been directed to conduct profiling on organizers of community pantries amid allegations of red-tagging that even forced the Maginhawa Community Pantry in Quezon City to temporarily suspend its operation.
PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas also denied that the PNP has been red-tagging the organizers of community pantries amid social media posts of some policemen that either warn the public against being exploited by the communist rebels, or directly link some of the community pantries to the New People’s Army (NPA).
“There is no order from the National Headquarters to conduct any form of profiling of organizers of community pantries. It is beyond the interest of the PNP to delve into purely voluntary personal activities of private citizens,” said Sinas in a statement released on Tuesday.
“We are aware of the activities of these community pantries as an expression of Bayanihan spirit, but we have no intention to interfere but to serve the best interest of law and order and public safety in such public activities,” he added.
Early on Tuesday, Ana Patricia Non, the organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry which inspired other people to set up their own in various parts of the country, posted on his Facebook account that their volunteers have stopped distributing goods and accept donations after they were red-tagged.
But the incident is not isolated.
Also on Tuesday, a community pantry set up on Matatag Street in Barangay Central in Quezon City was also ordered to stop its operation by the barangay officials.
In some Facebook posts, a community pantry organizer in Manila was quizzed by local policemen and was asked to fill out a form which included the group or organization she was affiliated with.
Another Facebook post also revealed policemen visiting another community pantry in Metro Manila and also asked the organizer about the reason why it was set up and was eventually asked to fill out a form.
But Sinas said they do not intervene in the operation of community pantries.
“We have seen similar activities during the community quarantine of 2020 when some farmers’ organizations and LGUs hauled their surplus produce of fruits and vegetables to depressed communities in Metro Manila,” said Sinas.
“Similarly, police did not interfere with these activities rather extended utmost assistance to ensure orderly distribution to the needy,” he added.
If there is one thing that they are concerned about, Sinas said it is the observance of public health standards when there is a gathering of ten or more persons that builds-up a crowd.