“We should not mistake claims of Celiz for courageous reporting; it is purely self-serving agitation”
I am utterly appalled, but frankly not surprised, by the latest claims from Ka Eric Celiz alleging that Mayor Benjamin Magalong resigned from his post due to pressure from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
To me, these aren’t just rumors; they are “weapons of disinformation” explicitly designed to distort the truth, poison the well of public trust, and ultimately destabilize our institutions.
Mayor Magalong himself offered a clear, principled explanation: he stepped down to protect the integrity of the anti-corruption fight.
That was his personal, conscious, and honorable choice.
Ka Eric’s theatrical version—that the President ordered him to stop an investigation or that he refused a meeting in Malacañang—is a complete fabrication.
President Marcos never gave such an order. These lies are meticulously crafted to deceive and erode the support the President has earned through prudence and patience.
A Pattern of Reckless Fabrications
We must look at the source.
This is not the first time Ka Eric Celiz has attempted to stir controversy by spreading rumors dressed up as revelations. He has built his notoriety on a consistent pattern of reckless claims that collapse under scrutiny.
He is not a whistleblower; he is a fabricator who exploits the people’s fears and frustrations.
Time and again, his track record demonstrates that he prioritizes scandal over truth.
We should not mistake this for courageous reporting; it is purely self-serving agitation.
Stop the Cheap Political Drama
The claim that Magalong “snubbed” the President is equally nonsensical and unworthy of discussion.
The Office of the President is not a gossip arena.
To spin stories about supposed refusals is childish and disrespectful to the office.
Mayor Magalong is a man of integrity, and his decision deserves respect, not to be twisted into cheap drama by people who thrive on public scandal and intrigue.
I also unequivocally condemn the attempt to drag the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) into this political drama.
It is utterly reckless to use our soldiers as props in lies and speculation.
The AFP has one sacred duty: to defend the Republic under civilian authority.
To spread rumors that they are restless or plotting is a direct insult to their honor.
It plants unwarranted fear and fundamentally weakens the very institution that safeguards our democracy.
Those who tarnish the dignity of our men and women in uniform with baseless stories should be held accountable for sowing distrust.
Disinformation Is Sabotage
Let us be clear: freedom of speech is not the freedom to lie.
Ka Eric and those who amplify his claims may believe they are simply exercising their right to talk.
Still, when words are built on deliberate falsehoods and intended to destabilize the government and its leaders, that is not democracy. That is sabotage, and sabotage must never be excused as liberty.
The Filipino people deserve the truth, not mass hysteria.
President Marcos has led with integrity, and he continues to respect the law even as critics try to twist the narrative against him.
We cannot allow disinformation to divide us or erode the fundamental trust we place in our institutions.
Rumors are fleeting, but the truth and the Republic will endure.
Unity behind the President, not hysteria from rumor-mongers, is what will protect our democracy and ensure our continued progress.
(The writer, a doctorate degree holder, serves as Chairman Emeritus of four civic-oriented organizations: Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement).
