RIP Ka Bel, Representative of the Working Class

KA BEL, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORKING CLASS

GABRIELA National Alliance of Women mourns with the people with the
passing away of Ka Crispin Beltran, representative of Anakpawis Party
List, representative of the working class Filipinos.

Ka Bel was relentless in serving the oppressed people, enduring the
most difficult of trials, the latest of which was his detention for more
than a year for rebellion case orchestrated by the Arroyo regime. His
dedication to the working class was such that he inspired and encouraged
his own children and grandchildren to become part of the people's
struggle.

Ka Bel was an ideal man – passionate in his commitment to serve, devoted
to the cause of the people, dependable in the most trying of times.

Ka Bel's death is a great loss but more importantly his life, tirelessly
dedicated to serving the oppressed peoples, will forever serve as an
inspiration to continue the people's struggle for genuine freedom and
democracy.

Mahal ka namin, Ka Bel, we will sorely miss you.


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News article from GMA News:

ka bel passes may 20th.

Labor leader and staunch Arroyo critic passes away

From the parliament of the streets to the corridors of Congress, Crispin B. Beltran never gave up on his aim of promoting the interest of workers.

The 75-year-old Beltran, born in Bacacay, Albay on January 7, 1933, was a long time trade unionist and chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno before he became representative of Anakpawis party-list.

He met his end on Tuesday, May 19. He succumbed to severe head injuries after a bad fall from the roof of his house in Bulacan province. Fellow leftist lawmaker Satur Ocampo said that he was once told by Beltran that he'd rather die in a protest-rally on the street, in the company of poor people who want change in the government.

He was a political detainee during Martial Law. He was again detained under the Arroyo administration for more than 15 months from March 2006 to July 2007 through a hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center.

Beltran was arrested on February 25, 2006, a day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national emergency following a failed uprising against her government.

He was nabbed on charges of rebellion, with authorities enforcing an arrest warrant issued in 1982. That rebellion case, stemming from protest actions over the Bataan Export Processing Zone, was dismissed in 1986.

In June 2007, when he was granted temporary liberty, Beltran returned to the House of Representatives in a fighting mood.

While at the plenary, Beltran, in a fiery privilege speech assailed the Arroyo administration, and defended his right to speak against corruption, unmindful of his recurring heart problem, which often made his blood pressure shoot up.

"I am innocent of the rebellion charge against me. It's neither a sin nor against the law to speak against graft and corruption and the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians", he said. - GMANews.TV