Maginhawa Community Pantry to take pause amid 'red-tagging' in gov't social media

The community pantry which spawned similar initiatives around the country will suspend its distribution and receiving of goods for those affected by the quarantines following what it called 'red-tagging' in some government social media pages.

Anna Patricia Non, the organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry, said there would be a pause in its operation for the safety of its volunteers.

"Malungkot po dahil hindi muna maipapamahagi ang goods na inihanda namin buong maghapon dahil po sa #RedTagging na nagaganap. Magbigat sa pakirandam ko kasi maganda po ang intentions ko noong binuo ko ang #CommunityPantry at ilang araw na din po na napakaraming pinagsisilbihan nito at ganun din po ang tulong na dumadating," Non said on Facebook.

"Sigurado po maraming tao po ang pipila sa amin bukas pero kailangan po muna nila maghintay sa susunod na araw bago po ito maipamahagi. Lalo na po at nagkaproblema kanina ang ibang Community Pantry sa mga kapulisan," she added.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict posted graphics on its Facebook page apparently linking the community pantry initiatives to the communist movement.

The Quezon City Police District also posted a similar graphic on its Facebook page. 

Non said three policemen had asked for contact and whether she belonged to an organization.

"Humihingi din po ako ng tulong kay mayor Joy Belmonte tungkol sa usapin na ito. Lalo na po ay hingi po ng tatlong pulis ang number ko at tinatanong po kung anong organisasyon ko," Non said.

"Natatakot po ako maglakad mag-isa papunta sa Community Pantry  ng alas singko ng umaga dahil po sa walang basehang paratang sa amin. Gusto ko lang po talaga makatulong at sana po ay huwag nyo masamain," she added. --NB, GMA News