Chairman Emeritus Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia chided claims allegations that Mayor Benjamin Magalong resigned due to pressure from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., describing such as “weapons of disinformation” designed to distort the truth and poison public trust.
“Mayor Magalong himself explained that he stepped down to protect the integrity of the anti-corruption fight. That was his personal and principled choice,” Goitia said, in reference to a video released by a certain Ka Eric Celiz, whom he said alleged that the President ordered him to stop an investigation or that he refused to meet in Malacañang, which he described as “pure invention” while stressing that President Marcos never gave such an order and that “these lies are crafted to deceive and destabilize.”
According to who is Chairman Emeritus of four respected civic-oriented organizations namely, 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, through which he continues to advance the causes of sovereignty, reform and the dignity of the Filipino people, Ka Eric Celiz has a history of peddling unverified stories and wild accusations, often without evidence: “This is not the first time Ka Eric has tried to stir controversy by spreading rumors dressed as revelations. Time and again, he has built his notoriety by making reckless claims that collapse under scrutiny. His track record shows a pattern of exploiting the people’s fears and frustrations, not of providing truth. He is not a whistleblower; he is a fabricator.”
On the claim that Magalong “snubbed” the President, he stressed that the Office of the President is not a gossip arena and to spin stories about supposed refusals is childish and disrespectful, noting that Magalong is a man of integrity and his decision deserves respect, “not to be twisted into cheap drama by people who thrive on scandal.”
Goitia also condemned Ka Eric’s attempt to drag the Armed Forces into political intrigue, saying: “Let me be clear: it is reckless to use the AFP as props in lies and speculation,” Goitia warned. “Our soldiers have one sacred duty to defend the Republic under civilian authority. To spread rumors that they are restless or plotting is an insult to their honor. It plants fear where there should be trust, and it 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.”
While freedom of expression is protected, Goitia underscored that deliberate falsehoods do not fall under its protection.
“Let us be clear: freedom of speech is not freedom to lie. Ka Eric and those like him may think they are just exercising their right to talk, but when words are built on lies and meant to destabilize, that is not democracy. That is sabotage, and sabotage must never be excused as liberty.”
Goitia also issued a direct appeal to the people, saying: “The Filipino people deserve truth, not hysteria. President Marcos has led with patience, prudence, and integrity. He continues to respect the law even when critics try to twist the narrative against him. We must not allow Ka Eric’s disinformation to divide us or erode trust in our institutions. Rumors fade, but the truth and the Republic will endure. Unity behind the President, not hysteria from rumor-mongers, is what will protect our democracy.”
