Let’s not use any form of help as black propa vs. gov’t: Go
Updated: May 17, 2021
MANILA – As various initiatives to help the poor continue to emerge amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed for unity and not use any form of assistance as black propaganda against the government’s efforts to combat the health crisis and its impact on the economy.
This, after the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) raised concerns that groups linked to the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) are exploiting the rise of community pantries to push their own agenda and undermine the government.
“‘Wag natin gawing propaganda ito panlaban sa gobyerno. Marami pong Pilipino na nagmamalasakit sa kanyang kapwa Pilipino na gusto talagang tumulong. Iba po ‘yung panahon ngayon (Let’s not use these initiatives as propaganda against government. Many compassionate Filipinos want to help their fellow Filipinos. We are facing peculiar times),” Go said in a news release on Thursday.
Go welcomed all the initiatives from various sectors to help their communities cope with the health crisis, saying the bayanihan (spirit of communal unity) efforts should not be mixed with political colors.
“Hindi po ito panahon para magsisihan, magsiraan, o maglamangan pa. Panahon po ito ng pagtutulungan, pagmamalasakit, at pakikiisa sa bayanihan (This is not the time to blame and destroying each other. This is the time to help each other, show compassion, and unity for bayanihan),” he said. “Huwag nating haluan ng kulay ang mga inisyatibo ng iilan na nais tumulong sa kapwa nilang Pilipino (Let us not mix color with the initiatives of the few who want to help their fellow Filipinos).”
He said these acts of service, such as community pantries, reflect the Filipinos’ resilient bayanihan spirit, especially during difficult times.
“Kahit noong wala pa po itong pandemyang ito, may mga grupo na talaga o mga komunidad na nagkakaroon ng ganoong inisyatibo. May mga libreng tulong po, ‘yung mga soup kitchen, mga pakain, maganda po itong inisyatibong ganito na nagtutulungan tayo (Even before pandemic, there are groups or communities doing similar initiatives. Free assistance, soup kitchen and food. These are good initiatives that we help each other),” Go said.
Go also called on officials to continue to promote a culture of inclusivity and empower the people to participate in the collective efforts to overcome this crisis.
He said politicizing initiatives, such as community pantries, robs them of their true essence, which is that of compassion and service.
“Nawawala na po ‘yung essence ng pagtutulungan dahil nandyan na ‘yung pagsisiraan. Magtulungan lang po tayo... marami sa mga kababayan natin ang gustong tumulong (The essence of helping each other diminishes because we destroy each other),” he said.
Go said the government remains committed to leading the country towards full recovery while ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, especially the poor and vulnerable sectors.
“Bagama’t ginagawa ng gobyerno ang lahat upang mapagaan ang hirap na pinapasan ng ating mga kababayan, tandaan din natin na hindi ito laban ng gobyerno lamang. Laban ito ng buong sambayanang Pilipino at ng buong mundo (While the government is doing its best to lessen the burden of our people, this is not only the campaign of the government. This is the battle of the whole Filipino nation and the whole world),” he said.
He urged each government worker to contribute to the community pantries in their respective neighborhoods in fulfillment of their duty to serve our people by all means possible. (PNA)