The originator of the first community pantry that went viral said she was pausing distribution of free food and essentials, citing red-tagging or social media posts linking the movement to the communist rebellion.
Patricia Non said three policemen asked for her phone number and asked what organization she belonged to. Because of this, she said she was now afraid to walk to the pantry in Maginhawa St. She sought help from Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
Non said the accusations are "baseless," adding, "I just really want to help and I hope you don't get it wrong."
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"Not a good news. Tomorrow, #MaginhawaCommunityPantry will be paused for the safety of us and the volunteers. I'm sad because you can't distribute the goods that we prepared the whole day because of the #RedTagging that is happening," Non said in a Facebook post on Tuesday after midnight.
"For sure there will be a lot of people who will be in line with us tomorrow but they will have to wait for the next day before it will be distributed. Especially the other Community Pantry had problems with the police earlier," she said.
Non started the community party at the heart of Quezon City and inspired others to set up similar outposts where people are asked to give and take only what is enough for them.
The Maginhawa pantry has received many donations, including kamote from farmers in Paniqui, Tarlac, which is around a three-hour drive from Quezon City.
In as far as Davao City, inmates donated their biscuits and coffee to a local community pantry, according to a jail officer.
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