PETITION FOR THE RELEASE OF KA CRISPIN BELTRAN

March 3, 2006

On February 25 at around 8:30 AM, a day after Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared her “state of national emergency” or Presidential Proclamation 1017, Anakpawis (toiling masses) Partylist representative Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran was arrested by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents led by Major Rene Corpuz in his home at San Francisco, Bulacan without presenting any warrant. The Arroyo administration has pressed charges on him for inciting to sedition.

Who is Ka Bel?
For the last two decades, Ka Bel has been a significant figure in the historical struggle of the Philippine labor sector and the poor masses for the recognition of rights and welfare. Due to his dedication and determination to the workers’ cause, he was tasked as the Chairman Emeritus of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). He is also the founding Chairperson of the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS). From 2001-2003, he was one of the three solons of the Bayan Muna Partylist and from 2004 to present, he is the chairman of the committee on labor and urban poor concerns in the house of representatives.

Ka Bel, now 73, was a victim of political repression way backs the martial rule of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. He was imprisoned in Camp Crame in 1982 due to trumped-up cases filed against him by the Marcos dictatorship, where we suffered intense physical and mental torture from the military.

In the morning of March 2, Ka Bel was rushed to the emergency room of the Philippine National Police General Hospital because of a mild attack of hypertension and his blood pressure rose to 170/100. His family said that Ka Bel complained of chest pains and having a hard time in going to sleep as memoirs of his tortures 21 years ago keep on haunting him. Aside from hypertension, Ka Bel is also suffering from arthritis and diabetes.

The Arroyo administration seems to be really extraordinary as it ensures the heavily guarding of the bed bound Ka Bel. He is clearly being treated more than a criminal.

As GMA’s PP 1017 was lifted on March 3 at 11 AM, there is still no order for the release of Ka Bel and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna who was also arrested on February 27 at a Philippine Airlines Ticketing office in Davao City and the four Partylist representatives who recently were taken into custody at the House of Congress (Satur Ocampo and Teddy Casiño of Bayan Muna, Liza Masa of Gabriela, and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis)

The ranks of the progressive workers under the leadership of the Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera condemn the fascist acts of Arroyo in her desperate move to cling on her power. We demand the immediate release of Ka Bel and all of the progressive law makers and individuals illegally arrested under the much unjustified PP 1017 of Arroyo.

We reaffirm the call for the ouster of the corrupt, fascist and illegitimate president Arroyo doing everything even to the extent of killing her own people in clinging to her power and inflicting unbearable hardships to the whole of the nation.

RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL RULE!
JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!
OUST GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO!

Reference: Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera