An elderly man died while waiting in line at a community pantry in Quezon City organized by actress Angel Locsin, who opened the pantry on her birthday.
Rolando dela Cruz, 67, lost consciousness while waiting for his turn to receive his goods, and was declared dead on arrival due to natural causes at the East Avenue Medical Center, a report from the Holy Spirit Police Station said.
Locsin said on Facebook that the community pantry opened at 8 a.m. because the line was already long. It was supposed to close at 4 p.m. or until supplies ran out.
“This is not what I wanted… it just turned out that maybe the people were hungry that even if they weren’t in line, they cut in line,” Locsin said in Filipino. “To those I caused trouble to, I’m sorry, this wasn’t my intention.”
For his part, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said community pantries are a welcome in his city.
"Our policy is very simple: you don't need a permit to do good deeds," Domagoso said in an interview on ANC's "Matters of Fact" on Thursday.
In a statement released by the Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) on Friday, Domagoso said he has pointed out that with community pantries around, more food will be available to families in need.
Thus, the mayor is even encouraging more people to help in community pantry efforts if they are able.
The mayor assured the public that Manila Police District (MPD) Director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco shares the same policy.
Public school teachers, meanwhile, staged a protest in which they lined up at the “Duterte Pantry for Teachers” that had nothing but empty containers, representing the President’s broken promises to them.
In Angeles City, six community pantries surfaced in different areas, offering free vegetables, eggs, rice and canned goods.
Residents in surrounding communities swarmed the pantries opened at the Immaculate Concepcion CHurch at Barangay Balibago; JK Pantry situated in front of Tollhouse, Astro Park in Brgy. Balibago, NEPO Community Pantry at Sto. Rosario and in Brgy. Claro M. Recto.
“We, Filipinos, are known all over the world for keeping the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ alive, even during these modern times,” said Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr.
He donated two months of his salary worth P228,000 to be equally divided among the six community pantries.
The amount will be used to purchase 240 boxes of corned beef and 57 sacks of rice, which will be divided equally and delivered to the six community pantries.
Lazatin said the initiative aims to inspire and encourage more Angeleños in helping their neighbors.
