Former vice president Jejomar “Jojo” Binay has commended the move of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. for issuing a gag order on two spokespersons of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Esperon reportedly ordered Lieutenant Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. and Lorraine Badoy of the NTF-ELCAC to stop issuing further statements about community pantries.
Parlade and Badoy drew flak on social media for red-tagging organizers of community pantries.
“I would like to congratulate Gen. Esperon for issuing a gag order on Parlade and his deputy. It’s about time,” Binay said in a statement on Sunday (April 25).
According to Binay, red-tagging people does not help anyone during these trying times.
“Nakakadagdag pa sa gulo. Kaya tama lang na tumahimik na sila (They only add to the problem. That’s why they should just shut up),” said the former vice president.
Binay added that “red-tagging persons who are being hailed internationally for helping the hungry only reminds the public of government’s shortcomings. And Parlade should realize that by linking the so-called Left to acts of kindness, he is giving them tons of positive publicity.”
On April 20, the operation of the Maginhawa Community Pantry opened by Ana Patricia Non in Quezon City was temporarily closed due to red-tagging. It resumed the next day, April 21.
Inspired by the good initiative of Non, many community pantries opened all over the country.