The local government of Quezon City on Tuesday assured that organizers and beneficiaries of community pantries in the city will remain safe amid allegations of red-tagging being conducted by government authorities.

In a statement, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed support for the initiative and vowed to protect its organizers.

“I would like to personally assure Ms. Ana Patricia Non and other like-minded individuals that the local government of Quezon City fully supports Community Pantries,” Belmonte said.

“Indeed, these initiatives highlight the bayanihan spirit inherent in our QCitizens. The city government will therefore ensure that the organizers and beneficiaries of Community Pantries remain safe and unimpeded,” she added.

Belmonte gave the assurance after Non, the person behind the Maginhawa community pantry, said they would temporarily pause their operations for the safety of their volunteers amid the alleged red-tagging.

Belmonte said she has reached out to Non and discussed her concerns about her safety and security.

“I have requested QCPD District Director Brigadier General Antonio Yarra to conduct an investigation regarding Ms. Non’s apprehensions and earlier experiences,” she said.

“I will likewise meet with Station 9 Commander Police LtCol, Imelda Reyes, under which jurisdiction Maginhawa falls, to further discuss Miss Non’s security concerns,” she added.

The mayor said the city’s Task Force Disiplina and barangay officials have provided assistance in maintaining peace and order in the Maginhanawa community pantry.

She, however, clarified that the teams are only there to “help remind the public about observing minimum health standards and to assist in controlling any crowds that may form.”

“Task Force Disiplina is instructed to do the same for any other community pantries in the city should barangay personnel need additional assistance,” she said.

“In these difficult times, let us allow kindness and selflessness to prevail,” she added.

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City government has suspended online booking of vaccination slots on the eZConsult application.

The procedure will remain suspended while the local government is still waiting for additional vaccines for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the Department of Health (DOH).

Meanwhile, assisted booking for the first dose of vaccines in barangays has been suspended as well.

The city government assured those who already received the first dose of the vaccine that they have been reserved for their second dose at the vaccination site where they have taken their first dose.

They are reminded, however, to strictly follow their assigned date of vaccination indicated in their respective Vaccination Card.

Residents are advised to always check the city’s official Facebook Page or coordinate with barangay officials for the next schedule of vaccination.

MANILA, Philippines – Some 43,000 fully grown marijuana plants and 400 grams of Cannabis products, estimated to worth P8.6 million have been destroyed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

In a statement on Friday, police said the marijuana plants and Cannabis products were destroyed by joint elements from the PNP and PDEA units in a three-day eradication operation at four plantation sites in Barangay Ngibat, Tinglayan, Kalinga this week.

Police said that at the first site with an estimated land area of 500 square meters, around 5,000 marijuana plants worth P1 million were uprooted, and 400 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P48,000 were destroyed.

At the second plantation site with an estimated land area of 1,000 square meters, the PNP said that around 10,000 marijuana plants worth P2 million were destroyed.

Around 8,000 marijuana plants worth P1.6 million were also uprooted in the third plantation site with a land area of 800 square meters.

At the fourth site, with 2,000 square meter land area, authorities took out 20,000 marijuana plants estimated to worth P4 million.

The operation culminated at around 4:00 p.m. of April 14, the PNP said.

according to PNP chief General Debold Sinas, appropriate charges will be filed against those who cultivate marijuana plants.

“We will continue with the marijuana eradication operations nationwide with the aim of totally ending the illegal cultivation and sale of this plant,” he said.

“Likewise, appropriate court charges await against identified weed cultivators,” he added.