QC councilor files reso honoring Maginhawa Community Pantry organizer Ana Patricia Non

A resolution honoring Ana Patricia Non, the woman behind the Maginhawa Community Pantry, has been filed by Quezon City councilor Winnie Castelo on Monday.

The resolution recognizes and commends Non for inspiring the establishment of more community pantries across different barangays and cities nationwide.

Earlier this month, Non set up a community pantry on Maginhawa Street

The set-up bears the sign, "Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan" [Give according to what you can, take according to what you need] and offers rice, vegetables, milk, and even vitamins for people to take if they need them.

This food-sharing initiative has been replicated in other areas as other Good Samaritans were inspired to help people in need.

'Red-tagging'

Earlier, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the Quezon City Police District linked the community pantry initiative to the communist movement on social media.

With this, on April 20, Non announced the temporary closure of the Maginhawa Community Pantry. It resumed operations on April 21.

While the QCPD apologized for its social media post, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, Jr. likened Non and other community pantries to Satan’s deception of Eve and admitted that the NTF-ELCAC was conducting background checks on community pantry organizers. He alleged that the initiatives have been the source of anti-government propaganda.

Senators have slammed the NTF-ELCAC's comments on the community pantries, while the National Privacy Commission also condemned the “unjust” profiling of community pantry organizers.

On Sunday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. announced a gag order on NTF-ELCAC spokespersons Parlade and Lorraine Badoy to keep them from making comments  on community pantry initiatives in the meantime.

Non said she is mulling legal action against her accusers. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News