To The Tribune: This is to set the record straight regarding your April 24, 2021 commentary that imputed motives to the remarks of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on the community pantries that have been set up in parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces recently.

Reply to Tribune Commentary

This is to set the record straight regarding your April 24, 2021 commentary that imputed motives to the remarks of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson on the community pantries that have been set up in parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces recently.

Contrary to what the Tribune commentary claimed, Senator Lacson never said the existence of the community pantries “is an indication of the ineptitude of the government in handling the economic woes of marginalized Filipinos.”

What Senator Lacson pointed out was that the community pantries are good because through them, we see mutual aid among neighbors and barangay residents. But it cannot be denied that the community pantries also hint at desperation among residents who feel they can no longer rely on the government to help them, and they must thus band together to find ways to survive. Neither can it be denied that with the community pantries, people want the government to do better – otherwise, they will take matters into their own hands, though in a positive way.

Meanwhile, we hope malice is not behind the Tribune commentary connecting the unconnected by asking if Sen. Lacson “even bothered to donate food items to the community pantries,” after opining that he is “obviously eyeing higher elective office in next year’s election.”

Thank you.

Joel Locsin
Media Relations Officer
Office of Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson