UP community condemns red tagging vs community pantry volunteers

Officials and students of the University of the Philippines (UP) on Wednesday strongly condemned the continued red-tagging of the organizers and volunteers of the community pantries that erupted in the midst of the pandemic.

In an online roundtable discussion with the theme “Damayan” organized by the UP Office of Student Regent, UP Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said that the community pantry is not new because there have always been soup kitchens to provide assistance to students. more in need.

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According to Nemenzo, the initiative of the community pantry organizers is commendable.

He said the UP community supports the goal of community pantries to help those in greater need in the midst of the pandemic.

He said that red-tagging is not right and that it has no place in society.

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“Hindi na sila natuto. Red tagging has no place in our society, ever. It is a threat to our constitutional right of freedom of expression, it places people in harm’s way, and shames those who are helping others in a time of need,” said Nemenzo.

The university official believes that red-tagging is just a waste of time and resources.

UP community condemns red-tagging vs community pantry volunteers

Some government officials have previously accused UP of being an institution where communist groups are allegedly recruiting. The university denied this.

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They should just spend their time helping the government and the Filipinos who are still fighting the pandemic.

UP Professor and former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te believes that the construction of community pantries for the destitute in the midst of the pandemic is a meaningful and humane response by those who care.

But they also mean that there is a problem with the government’s response to the pandemic, he said.

“Indikasyon ito na mayroon talagang kakulangan. Repleksyon ito ng frustration ng mga tao sa mga bagay na hindi kayang tugunan ng lokal at national government,” said Te.

According to him, the red-tagging is not surprising because it is clear that the government’s response to a public health crisis is through a military response.

Meanwhile, although the lawyer admitted that there is a real need to oppose the ongoing red-tagging, he said he also could not advise the immediate filing of a case by individuals who have been red-tagged because of the construction of the community pantry.