National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. denies the agency’s alleged red-tagging and profiling of community pantry organizers.
Ana Patricia Non was forced to temporarily not open the Maginhawa community pantry because she feared for the safety of their volunteers. The attacks and linking them to the communist struggle are similar.
“We’re just checking kung ano ang ginagawa, anong sitwasyon sa community pantries na ito kasi hindi naman lahat ng community pantries ay initiated by one group or one individual,” NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(We’re just checking what they’re doing, what’s the situation in these community pantries because not all of these are organized by one group or individual.)
“We’ve been checking all around the country, may community pantries na-find out na organized by the LGUs (local government units).”
(There are community pantries we found out were organized by LGUs.)
Parlade said the NTF-ELCAC “checked” community pantries on its own as it was the government’s mandate.
“Walang kailangan mag-utos sa’min kasi mandate ‘yan ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno. Kailangan i-check may clearance, kung sumusunod ba sa policies,” he said.
NTF-ELCAC denies red-tagging, profiling of community pantry organizers
(No one has to order us because that’s the mandate of the AFP, of government agencies. We have to check if there’s clearance, if they are following policies.)
“We’ve checked Bicol, Mindoro, so far wala naman nakitang problema (we did not see any problem).”
Parlade said NTF-ELCAC had received messages from netizens about placards with hashtags “#StopKillingFarmers.”
“As much as possible tumulong na lang, ‘wag nang samahan ng politika, ng propaganda. Many of these pantries are doing exactly that,” he said.
(As much as possible, just help people. Don’t politicize it, don’t include propaganda.)
Meanwhile, the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City reopened this Wednesday.
Hundreds went this Wednesday but police allowed them to line up at 5 am in accordance with the curfew.
“Starting today gusto po namin sana na magfocus tayo dun sa community pantry. Mas madaming sumusuporta naman po kesa bumabatikos. Ayaw ko po ibuhos ang energy ko sa mga taong hindi nakakaintindi,” said Non.