PNP 'draft paper' has 'planted beneficiaries' taking selfies at Barangayanihan pantries

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started a project akin to the community pantries that had sprouted in Metro Manila and in other parts of the country to provide food to the needy amid the COVID-19 lockdowns.

However, a briefer on the project which became the subject of some social media posts indicated the deployment of "planted beneficiary civilians" who will post pictures of the Barangayanihan program on social media. 

Police Colonel Harris Fama, deputy director of PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations, told GMA News Online that the circulating project brief was only a draft.

“The ‘plant’ is wrong choice of word. We’ll edit it. The project brief is a draft doc for internal use only,” Fama said.

Asked if the Barangayanihan was a publicity stunt, Fama said the PNP had been doing similar efforts during calamities even before the COVID-19 pandemic

“We just put a brand name called Barangayanihan,” Fama said.

The draft from PNP-DPCR said the program called Barangayanihan started on April 21 with “breakfast lugaw” being served at police community precincts of the Manila Police District.

“Respective beneficiaries will take pictures of the activity and post it in their respective social media Facebook account,” the "draft" read.

“These netizens can be planted beneficiary civilians so as to manifest community’s appreciation,” it added.

The police also set some mandatory hashtags including #InspiredByMaginhawaCommunityPantry, #LugaeIsEssential, #WeFightAsOne.

In Phase 2, the project brief stated that the Barangayanihan project would be nationwide, again with instruction of asking or planting civilian beneficiaries to take selfies and post the photos in social media.

The word "plant" has through the years gained notoriety in the law enforcement community as it had been used to refer to the deployment of false evidence against individuals to be arrested.

These include guns or drugs "planted" in the possession of suspects.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Olay told GMA News Online on Tuesday that the term “planted” in the project brief was a wrong choice.

“Palagay ko ‘yan ay wrong choice of words (I think that’s a wrong choice of words),” Olay said.

Olay said that the intention of having ‘planted’ beneficiaries is for the documentation of the project, which he said is required to be submitted in an after-activity report.

He also pointed out that the PNP has been conducting this kind of projects years ago during calamities.  --NB, GMA News