FORMER CTG cadres express discontent with the Marcos administration’s leadership style, claiming it is almost indistinguishable from dictatorship.
Independence Day is a significant celebration in the country’s history. Every June 12, Filipinos commemorate this day to remember the declaration of independence from foreign colonizers.
However, on the 126th anniversary of Independence Day, many of our countrymen still do not feel that they are truly free.
On Wednesday, the “Marcos Alis Dyan” or “Marcos, Step Down” movement gathered at Plaza Miranda in Manila.
This group comprises various sectors, including Muslim women.
Former cadres of the communist terrorist group (CTG), Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz and Peter “Ka Ramon” Mutoc, also participated in the protest.
The protest aimed to call for President Bongbong Marcos to step down.
According to former cadre Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, they united because of the Marcos administration’s abuse of power.
He said that the suppression of free speech through the revocation of SMNI’s franchise and the desecration of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church are signs of the dictatorial style of the current administration.
“The Filipino people are here with various organizations calling not only for respect for the freedom and rights of the people but also for the government to change its ways. First, the dictatorship should not return. We see now that Davao is under siege. The desecration of religious compounds, organizations, and members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is extremely severe and painful to see in this situation where our country pretends to be free and democratic, but under the son of the former dictator Marcos Sr., his son Marcos Jr. is doing this,” according to Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Former Cadre.
Celiz added that the people should be alarmed because we are under Marcos Jr.’s dictatorship, as evidenced by the chaos, violence, and harassment of local officials.
“The people need to speak out. The country will not achieve freedom if the people do not assert their rights under Marcos Jr.’s government. The current situation of harassment and violence in Davao City, at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound, and the harassment of local officials and free assemblies of the people is a very serious and dangerous indication that the dictatorship is returning without declaring it. In fact, a lot of people are saying our situation is just lacking the formal declaration of martial law,” Celiz added.
For Peter “Ka Ramon” Mutoc, all the chaos now stems from the government’s alliance with communist groups in Congress, considered enemies of the state.
“The reason we have chaos now is also due to the communists’ actions, their conspiracy with Speaker Romualdez in Congress, these three terrorists in Congress: Kabataan Party-list, Gabriela, and the Alliance of Communist Teachers. These three, through their alliance, started attacking the Dutertes, VP Sara Duterte. This is why we have this chaos, even the attack on SMNI, and what is happening to Pastor Quiboloy. All of these targets the Dutertes,” Peter “Ka Ramon” Mutoc, Former Cadre stated.
Due to these events, the former cadres are disheartened with the Marcos administration, and they cannot help but feel once again the urge to oppose the government.
“We returned to the government because we believed there was still hope for change, and we saw that during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s time. But now that we see the return of the bitter experiences and situations very similar to the dark times of martial law and his father’s dictatorship, we cannot help but feel the same discontent we felt as former rebels and cadres towards a government that should care for and respect the rights of its people. We see how they hurt the youth and women of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, a religious community, a religious organization, with no respect, sending combat troops. Marcos should be held accountable for this,” Celiz stressed.
