Lawmaker wants CHR, NBI to probe ‘red-tagging’ of community pantries

(INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez is urging the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe the alleged “red-tagging” of community pantry organizers.

Under House Resolution No. 1725, a copy of which was sent to the media on Tuesday,  Rodriguez lamented the closure of several community pantries in the country due to fear of red-tagging.

Some of the community pantries that closed due to said red-tagging are from his city, said Rodriguez.

“There is a need to look into the red-tagging activities and put a stop to it if it results in good ideas like community pantries are being forced to close down,” Rodriguez said in the resolution.

“Now therefore be it resolved, by the House of Representatives to direct the Commission on Human Rights and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the red-tagging of organizers of community pantries,” he added.

The House leader said that in Cagayan de Oro City, a community pantry closed after “being red-tagged and systematically harassed with leaflets being circulated and posted everywhere resulting in the owner fearing for his life.”

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Image from his Facebook page)

Moreover, Rodriguez said that another Muslim restauranteur also in Cagayan de Oro City complained that several individuals who introduced themselves as policemen went to her place and profiled her after she put up a community pantry outside her restaurant.

Anna Patricia Non earlier temporarily halted the operations of the Maginhawa community pantry in Quezon City over “red-tagging” fears and issues.

One of the screenshots included in Non’s announcement showed that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) shared posts which linked community pantries to left-leaning groups.

NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. said the task force has nothing to do with “red-tagging” community pantries and its organizers, and that they are merely “checking” the situation of community pantries to make sure that organizers do not have any other agenda.

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