A group of women was caught on CCTV taking every item of a community pantry in Pasig City, Jonathan Andal reported in Unang Balita on Tuesday.
The video shows the table full of various types of food in Barangay Kapitolyo when a group of six women arrived with eco-bags.
It was also seen in the video that the women surrounded the table while they had already picked up the contents. Also caught on camera was a woman carrying two trays of eggs.
In a few moments, the community pantry table was empty.
“Wala na silang itinira eh (they did not leave anything),” said Carla Quiogue, who built the community pantry.
According to Quiogue, she even teased the women who would have even brought the table. The women explained that they would distribute what they had taken to their neighbors.
“Tinawag ko pa nga po sila, sabi ko nakalimutan nila ‘yung lamesa kasi wala na talaga silang tinira. Sabi lang nila, ‘Ibibigay na lang po namin ‘to sa mga kapitbahay namin.’ Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘puwede namang sila na lang pumunta rito kung kailangan din ng mga kapitbahay n’yo,'” she added.
Group of women took everything from community pantry in Pasig City
(I even called them, I said they forgot the table because they didn’t really leave anything. They just said, ‘We’ll just give it to our neighbors.’ I told them, ‘They can come here if your neighbors need it too.)
The CCTV video of the incident is now viral.
The community pantry was first reported on Maginhawa Street in Quezon City where people leave food that can be picked up for free by those in need.
More and more areas are launching a community pantry, where those in need can get food and other products in the midst of a pandemic.
In Davao City, a community pantry was opened in front of a beverage shop on Roxas Avenue. It offers fruits, vegetables, canned goods, and other products.
The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pantry managers, on the other hand, reminded people to get only enough food and give others in need a chance to get it.