The National Privacy Commission (NPC) lambasted the “unjust” profiling of community pantry organizers after National Task Force on Ending the Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. compared an organizer to Satan who deceived Eve.
According to Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro, the NPC “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,” Liboro said.
“It is for this reason that we express our grave concerns over the statement of Lieutenant General Parlade Jr. regarding Ms. Ana Patricia Non, likening her selfless act to that of Satan’s,” he said.
In an interview on One News, Parlade said that Non’s project is as “same with Satan,” when the devil deceived and gave an apple to Eve.
With this, the Liboro said such labels are “unnecessary when the people are struggling to find every means to survive in this pandemic.”
Privacy commission: Profiling of community pantry organizers ‘unjust’
“The unwarranted profiling activities are being carried out against those organizing community pantries in aid of the less fortunate. Despite this good intention, they have been discouraged from continuing this activity because of red-tagging,” Liboro said.
Meanwhile, Parlade denied that NTF-ELCAC red-tagged organizers of community pantries.
The Philippine National Police earlier said it would conduct an investigation on the alleged red-tagging and profiling of community pantry volunteers.
“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,” Liboro said.
“Unjust profiling destroys the Filipino Bayanihan spirit,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also slammed the National Task Force on Ending the Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for allegedly sowing fear among community pantry organizers.