LAST week really was a difficult time but all’s well that ends well. I’m referring to the apologies made by people who branded retired police general-turned Baguio City Mayor Benjamin ‘Benjie’ Magalong a ‘traitor’ and an accomplice of the New People’s Army.

Magalong and a fellow Philippine Military Academy graduate, retired PNP chief and senator, now Citizen Ping Lacson earlier locked horns with their accusers as the two maintained that their record will speak that they have spent most of their career in the military and the police force fighting the CPP/NPA.

For the uniformed, it all started when Mayor Magalong condemned accusations that he is an accomplice of NPA rebels maintaining that the Baguio City government is protecting youthful activism which does not necessarily mean espousing communist ideology.

Citizen Ping came to the defense of Magalong, his former subordinate at the now defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and said the latter who is already a part of the 5-Man Committee looking into the cases of the 3rd-Level PNP Officers who have tendered their courtesy resignations before PBBM, is being ‘bullied by his accusers.” “While I share with them the same advocacy and passion in ending the insurgency problem, I enjoin them to focus on the enemy without harassing those of us who put our lives on the line while serving in the AFP and PNP,” Lacson added.

In a statement posted on his Facebook account, the retired general called out controversial televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and other program hosts in the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for making “unfounded accusations” about him being a traitor to the country.

However, many friends from the force told me that Magalong’s accusers led by a former CPP/NPA member-turned government supporter have already apologized to the latter. Here’s the statement issued by Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz and I’m quoting him in toto.

To Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the Filipino people: To my Team Laban Kasama Ang Bayan and to my SMNI NEWS Family, good day…..with what happened in the controversial position that we have taken earlier regarding the issue involving our commentaries against Mayor Magalong, especially the ones pertaining to cpp-npa-ndf in relations to the position of Mayor Magalong as the Mayor of Baguio City, where this current situation created a lot of internal conflict among the supposedly allied and friendly forces of the NATIONAL TASK FORCE TO END LOCAL COMMUNIST ARMED CONFLICT/NTF ELCAC;

and now that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy had already humbly made his personal public apology to Mayor Magalong after the latter aired his side of the issue and story via SMNI NEWS, I deem it necessary also and as my duty and obligation to publicly issue an apology to Mayor Magalong,.. publicly in the Program of Laban Kasama ang Bayan, on Monday, January 23, 2023, live on air via our program episode.

For the sake of unity, reconciliation and accountability as well as part of my personal commitment to SMNI, to Pastor, to the program Laban Kasama Ang Bayan, and most especially as my commitment to the Filipino people, that I shall fight against the cpp-npa-ndf and all its forms and modalities, with my fervor and patriotic commitment; but I shall do my fight on the basis of principled, just and accountable crusade based on TRUTH and FAIRNESS, WITH COMMITMENT TO HONSETY AND SINCERITY as the foundation of such crusade and advocacy– at all times.

With such clarity of purpose and sincerity of my intention to serve the higher mission of defeating the real evil and destroyer of our country for over half a century already— which is the cpp-npa-ndf and all its colluders, conspirators and enablers, I shall humbly make a personal public apology to Mayor Magalong, live on air, during our program Laban Kasama Ang Bayan at SMNI NEWS, on Monday, January 23;

and such public on-air apology is to be done as an act of my atonement for the pain and wound that I personally caused Mayor Magalong, especially against his honor, dignity and integrity both as an individual person and as a public official; including the pain that I may have caused Mayor Magalong’s family, friends and loved ones.

My public apology is expressed without any condition or reservation on my part, and with readiness as well to face the consequences of my actions including ACCOUNTABILITY and DISCIPLINE, or even consequences of facing legal actions, such as the right of Mayor Magalong to file legal suits against me, and even DISCIPLINARY ACTION to be imposed by SMNI EDITORIAL AND MANAGEMENT AUTHORIT, that may include administrative sanctions against me as a program anchor for Laban Kasama Ang Bayan program.

For the higher interest of closure and moving forward towards unifying all our allies, friendly forces, positive forces and sympathizers from all ranks and sectors of our society, in order to strongly achieve our principal mission goal of decisively defeating and vanquishing the REAL AND MAIN ENEMY that persistently and pervasively destroys our country and our people— the cpp-npa-ndf and their colluders and enablers; I ISSUE THE PUBLIC APOLOGY TO MAYOR MAGALONG. NO IFs and BUTs; NO CONDITION AT ALL… AND I AM READY TO FACE ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSEQENCES FOR MY ACTIONS CONCERNING MAYOR MAGALONG.

May this message of mine be also become a balm of easing the pain being felt by concerned PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, GRADUATES OF PMA, INCLUDING FORMER SENATOR LACSON, the family and loved ones of Mayor Magalong and his friends, as well as his constituents in Baguio City .

Facing the consequences of every action that I take and being ready to humbly submit my self for accountability to the actions that I made; and be ready always to faithfully and sincerely apologize for having taken such action without due regard for observance of DUE DILIGENCE, PRUDENCE AND PROPRIETY….. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE STANDARD for maturity, professionalism and responsibility in any duty or advocacy and crusade that every individual takes on, and that includes me.

May we all stand together to continue our mission goal of building a unified nation, a consolidated people that endeavor in unison and harmony in order to accomplish our mission: DECISIVELY DEFEAT AND COMPLETLY VANQUISH THE EVIL DESTROYER OF OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE– THE TRUE AND REAL ENEMIES OF OUR STATE; THE REAL DESTROYER OF OUR NATIONAL PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT… THAT IS THE CPP-NPA-NDF AND THEIR CONSPIRATORS.

LET US ALWAYS LOVE OUR GOD AND OUR COUNTRY; AND UNITE TO SERVE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR PEOPLE!

— JEFFREY “KA ERIC” CELIZ

Following the apology from Celiz, Mayor Magalong, a proud member of PMA ‘Sandigan’ Class of 1982 issued this statement. “Good afternoon My Fellow Cavaliers – Sirs, Mistahs and Underclassmen. In all the decisions that I have made in my public life, I have always been guided by the principles that I have learned from my Alma Mater, the PMA – Courage, Integrity and Loyalty.

After an unfortunate tirade these past few days against my character, I am grateful that the dust is beginning to settle and the healing process has started. Much of this is all because of the unwavering support of those who have stood by me, publicly and privately. To the PMA Alumni Association, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and other members of the uniform services, your testament of support only humbles me further and inspires me to fight the good fight.

Let us move on and join together in affirming our common commitment to free our country of communist terrorists, Islamist terrorists and drugs, a legacy that we need to pass on to the next generation.

“The challenges that we face vs the CTGs are equally great, and requires the unwavering support and efforts of all our cavaliers and stakeholders. The passion continues and let us be proud and secure in knowing that our PMA family, the family that we chose, will always support us in our advocacy to promote authentic Good Governance which is, as a matter of personal opinion, the only way we can completely eradicate communism in our country.

Maraming maraming salamat po,” the retired general said.