Thread by @ChelDiokno

What to do if your community pantry is visited by the police [THREAD]

Kung bisitahin ng pulis o ibang law enforcement agents ang community pantry ninyo, here are some tips:

1. If they are in uniform, take note of their names. Kung civilian attire, magalang na hingin ang gov't ID at isulat ang pangalan at affiliation (PNP, NBI, etc.). Kung hindi pumayag, politely say that you can’t accommodate them, dahil di mo alam kung law enforcers ba talaga sila.

2. You might be asked to fill up a form like this. Tandaan, wala kang kahit anong obligasyon na mag-fill up ng form o magbigay ng personal information sa law enforcers. Tandaan din itong paalala ni Data Privacy Commissioner Raymund E. Liboro:

3. If the community pantry is in private property, di pwede pumasok ang law enforcers kung walang search warrant, unless pumayag ang may-ari. Ask for a warrant signed by a judge; kung wala, sabihin: “Pasensya na po, pero di kayo pwedeng pumasok kung wala kayong search warrant."

If the police insist, or imply that you are hiding something (“Kung wala naman kayong tinatago ba’t ayaw nyo kaming papasukin?”), assert your right. Tell them: “Karapatan ko po yan, at yan po ang advice sa akin ng abogado.”

4. Kung nasa public land ang community pantry, hindi kailangan ng pulis ng search warrant para pumasok—but they still need a search warrant to search the community pantry or any other private property that is on the public land.

If the community pantry is on public land, make sure you are not obstructing traffic, littering, or otherwise violating any similar local regulations.

5. Kung hingan kayo ng business permit (also known as a “Mayor’s Permit”): sabihin na based on your understanding, hindi kailangan ng permit dahil hindi naman kayo nagnenegosyo; your only purpose is to help the needy and marginalized.

6. Kung hingan kayo ng barangay permit: sabihin na the DILG and Anti-Red Tape Authority have publicly stated in separate announcements na hindi kailangan ng barangay permit.

7. Kung hingan kayo ng authority to solicit from DSWD: sabihin na based on your understanding, required lang ang authority to solicit sa regional and national fund campaigns, at hindi ito naga-apply sa community pantry.

8. Kung sabihan kayo na you cannot continue operating because it violates IATF guidelines or regulations, ito ang sabihin ninyo:

a. IATF guidelines/regulations are only recommendatory and do not have the force of law unless they are adopted by the LGU as a local ordinance.

b. Even under IATF guidelines, mass gatherings for authorized humanitarian activities are allowed sa ECQ at MECQ. Since a permit is not required to operate a community pantry, and the poor are urgently in need of food, a community pantry is an authorized humanitarian activity.

c. Community pantries do not violate the IATF guidelines on humanitarian activities since no permit or license is required for them to operate.

9. Kung subukan nilang i-demolish o dismantle ang community pantry, politely and firmly object, but do not physically resist. Kumuha ng pictures o video recording to document what they are doing.

Tandaang hindi mo kailangan ng consent nila para mag-record. The Anti-Wiretapping Act only requires the consent of the parties kung private conversation or communication ito.

10. If law enforcers arrest you, or try to search you, others, or the community pantry, tandaan ang mga karapatan ninyo. You can refer to the primer made by FLAG, PCIJ, and the Foundation for Media Alternatives, which you can access through this linktree: diokno.ph/knowyourrights

11. Kung papirmahin kayo ng kahit anong dokumento (like an acknowledgment na binisita kayo), basahing maiigi at sabihing kailangan nyo muna kumonsulta ng abogado bago pumirma. Posibleng may waiver of rights ito, and this can prejudice your right to file a case kung kailangan.

Kunan ng picture ang dokumento at iforward sa abogado. Kung mapilit ang pulis, pwedeng gamitin ang non-dominant hand (halimbawa kung kaliwete, gamitin ang kanang kamay), o gumamit ng pirma other than your regular signature, so you can later explain that you were forced to sign.

12. Kung maaari, mag-set up na din ng CCTV cameras sa lugar ng community pantry, at siguraduhing nagre-record ang mga ito 24/7.

Sa lahat ng patuloy na tumutulong at nag-aambag sa mga community pantry, maraming salamat sa inyo. Sana makatulong ito sa inyo. You can also reach out to our FREE LEGAL HELPDESK anytime, i-message nyo lang kami sa m.me/cheldiokno. Mag-iingat kayong lahat, mga kakampi.