Another government agency, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) denounces in the strongest terms any act of unjust profiling of community pantry organizers and expresses grave concern the statement of police authorities likening the selfless act of an organizer to that of satan’s.

In a strongly worded statement, NPC Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro said “The National Privacy Commission denounces in the strongest terms any act of unjust profiling of community pantry organizers whom we consider heroes of this pandemic as this may violate their right to privacy. We have always been firm in our stand that unjust profiling activities are unwelcome due to the risks it entails to our citizens, such as discrimination and stereotyping. It is for this reason that we express our grave concerns over the statement of Lieutenant General Antonio Perlade Jr. regarding Ms. Ana Patricia Non, likening her selfless act to that of satan’s.”

Perlade is chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command (Solcom).

NPC said it has always been firm in its stand that unjust profiling activities are unwelcome due to the risks it entails to citizens, such as discrimination and stereotyping. 

The privacy watchdog branded Perlade’s labeling of Non as unnecessary when people are struggling to find every means to survive in this pandemic. 

It noted that the unwarranted profiling activities are being carried out against those organizing community pantries in aid of the less fortunate. Despite this good intention, Liboro said,  they have been discouraged from continuing this activity because of red-tagging. 

“It is during these trying times that we should not, by any means, fuel discrimination against anyone who has done nothing to deserve such. We must aim to build a united community driven by volunteerism with the genuine desire to help others and the needy. Unjust profiling destroys the Filipino Bayanihan spirit,” Liboro concluded. 

On Tuesday, April 20,  Anti Red Tape Authority chief Jeremiah Belgica personally visited the “Community Pantry” in Quezon City to make the authorities understand that such kind of “bayanihan” undertaking does not require any government permit. 

“This actually highlights some of the wrong notion of the government’s role when it comes to the lives of the people. The government should be the protector of freedom. The government should be able reproach when it comes to corruption,” he stressed.  “Government should be able to restrain itself as to when to come in and when to let the people live their lives freely.”