Sotto joins other senators: Leave community pantries alone

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday joined his colleagues' call to spare community pantries from government profiling.

“We should learn from the concept of community pantry, it's simple and easy. I appeal to our officials not to make it difficult for those who want to help. This is the true spirit of bayanihan, so please leave them alone,” Sotto said in a statement.

The Senate chief issued the statement amid the profiling and alleged red-tagging of community pantry organizers.

“Government is having difficulty in distributing help, why make it more difficult for others to help? I don't believe this!” Sotto added in a separate text message to reporters.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto likewise denounced the red-tagging of the community pantries.

“Those who see red in these bayanihan projects should have their hearts examined. Community pantries need more food bags, not red tags, nor red tape,” Recto said in a separate statement.

“Let them bloom wherever they sprout, regardless of who planted them. Bureaucracy has no business throwing a shade over this pure expression of people’s power,” he added.

Recto emphasized that franchises or permits should not be required from community pantries.

On Tuesday, Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño said organizers of community pantries should have permits, considering the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This statement was contradicted by his boss Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who said that permits are not required, but that organizers must coordinate with their respective local government units.

Eight senators on Tuesday issued a joint statement, asking the law enforcement units to launch an investigation on the profiling and red-tagging of community pantry organizers.

They likewise denounced the social media posts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which linked the organizers to communist movements.

The statement was issued by Recto, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senators Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Leila de Lima.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also asked government officials to stop the alleged red-tagging of the community pantries. — BM, GMA News