Privacy commission slams ‘unjust’ profiling of community pantry organizers

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) on Thursday slammed the “unjust” profiling of community pantry organizers after anti-insurgency spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. likened Maginhawa community pantry organizer Ana Patricia Non to Satan’s act of deception to Eve.

Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro said 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 act of setting up a community pantry, which inspired other communities to set up their own, as “same with Satan,” when the devil gave an apple to eve.

With this, the Privacy chief said such labels are “unnecessary when the people are struggling to find every means to survive in this pandemic.”

“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.

On Tuesday, Ana Patricia Non announced the temporary closure of her community pantry on Maginhawa, Quezon City, after the alleged profiling and red-tagging by the government.

This was after NTF-ELCAC and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) posted graphics on Facebook apparently linking community pantry initiatives to the communist movement.

Parlade denied the red-tagging accusation but admitted they are checking the background of the organizers of community pantries.

Meanwhile, the QCPD has apologized to the community pantry organizers over its social media post.

The Philippine National Police earlier said it will investigate the alleged red-tagging and unauthorized police profiling of pantry organizers.

“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.—AOL, GMA News