(Jun Sabayton/Franco Mamaril)
Gaite issued the statement after Manila resident Marikit Arellano shared on social media Monday, April 19, that police officers went to their community pantry in Pandacan and asked about their identity and affiliation.
In a now-deleted post, Arellano said they were also asked to fill up a form from the PNP-Joint Industrial Peace and Concerns Office or JIPCO, which asked about their personal details, including their Facebook account, as well as their family background.
“Para saan itong form na pinapa-fill up ng mga pulis? Bakit kailangan tanungin kung may kinabibilangang organisasyon ang mga nagtayo ng community pantry? Is this profiling of pantry organizers necessary? Saan naman nila gagamitin ang mga impormasyon na kinukuha nila? (What is the purpose of this form that policemen wanted filled up? Why the need to ask community pantry organizers if they are part of any organization? Is this profiling of pantry organizers necessary? Where will they use
Published April 20, 2021, 11:47 AM
The Manila Police District (MPD) on Tuesday (April 20) said that gathering the personal information of the organizers of the Pandacan community pantry was done for “security reasons.”
MPD Director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco said that they are creating a sector wherein people from community pantries can be their partners.
However, he said joining them and giving them information is only voluntary and they should not be forced to do it.
“May binubuo kaming mga iba’t ibang sectors para sa mga force multipliers namin at isa yan sa mga sectors of society, however [these] are all VOLUNTARY (We have different sectors for our force multipliers and that is one of the sectors of society. However, these are all voluntary),” Francisco told Manila Bulletin in a text message.
Cops visit community pantries, question organizers
BY REIN TARINAY
MANILA Filipino netizens are up in arms over what appeared to be harassment as police officers were seen roaming near community pantries, a growing mutual aid movement in the country as many experience hunger and subjected to poor social protection amid the pandemic.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, one of the organizers of the community pantry in Pandacan shared that two police officers approached their community pantry, asked them to answer a profiling sheet, and took a photo of them.
(Photo by Bernadette Anne Morales)
Faith-based humanitarian worker Patis Mungcal, in a tweet, said two cops also visited their community pantry, pointing out that they should quickly replenish their supplies for everyone in the queue and abide by health protocols.