BAYAN Muna Partylist Rep. Ferdinand Gaite expressed support to members of the University of the Philippines’ Mountaineers who defended Ana Patricia Non and her community pantry intitiative against red-tagging.

“I enjoin all my fellow UP Mountaineers alumni to stand with us in defense of our fellow mountaineer Patreng Non. I agree, good deeds in this time of need is not a crime,” Gaite, a member of the group, said.

The UP Mountaineers earlier condemned the red-tagging of the Maginhawa Community Pantry by the Quezon City Police District and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

“This cruel reaction to this humble project, which is born out of hunger, need, and neglect, is a huge disservice to the communities they swore to serve,” the group said.

“We continue to support Patreng Non and our other members who started pantries in their area with only the most sincere intentions of helping kababayans in a time of crisis,” it added.