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Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Militant lawmaker dies
MANILA -- Left-wing lawmaker and veteran labor leader Representative Crispin Beltran died Tuesday after accidentally falling from the rooftop of his home in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
Beltran died of brain injuries at 11:48 a.m. Tuesday while being treated at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Hospital in Fairview, Quezon City. He suffered multiple seizures.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Dr. Arnold Corpus, Beltran's attending physician, said the lawmaker suffered a cut at the right side of his head and broken ribs.
He was brought into the hospital at 9:42 a.m. and attending physicians tried to revive him for about two hours until his family decided to cut his life support.
According to Beltran's daughter Ofelia, the accident happened at 6 a.m. when the congressman lost his balance on the way down after fixing a leak on the roof.
"He fell from a ladder 'face first' but was still unconscious on the way to the North Caloocan Doctor's Hospital where he was initially revived," said Ofelia.
Ofelia also explained that they decided to transfer the congressman to the FEU hospital, but "he went into cardiac arrest."
She earlier told radio reporters that doctors declared her father "brain dead" after suffering at least six cardiac arrests.
"It was not the cardiac arrests that killed him, but the head injury," said the daughter.
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Satur Ocampo rushed to the hospital after learning the accident. It was him who informed reporters that doctors, who attended Beltran, were only able to revive his lungs and heart, as the latter suffered multiple seizures.
Beltran died at 75. He left a wife and 11 children.
It was reported that before Beltran's death, the family was busy preparing a privilege speech, which the congressman will deliver at the Congress on Tuesday.
He will supposedly talk before the Congress on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) and the power rate issues.
Condolences
House Speaker Prospero Nograles condoled with Beltran's wife Rosario and their 11 children and hailed the lawmaker as "the staunchest voice for the welfare of workers and the masses in the House."
"We are saddened by the news of the accident that befell our feisty and most esteemed colleague," he said, as he ordered that the House's flag be flown at half-mast.
The progressive bloc composed of Anakpawis, Bayan Muna and Gabriela party-list groups also expressed their condolences, saying "Ka Bel's (Beltran) death is an irreparable loss not only to the working class movement but to every Filipino yearning for genuine social change."
"He was a tower of a man, a pillar of strength for the progressive people's movement. His name has become synonymous to the militant labor movement," they said.
House minority leader Ronaldo Zamora said it was so "characteristic of this patriot and nationalist that he should die while fixing the roof of his own house, doing things by himself rather than sending out for professional help."
"He was fixing the roof that shelters every Filipino worker and living the life of a real Filipino advocate until the very end," he said.
Malacañang officials meantime were saddened by the untimely demise of Beltran whom they described as a true Filipino who stood and fought for what he believed in.
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) director general Cerge Remonde and Presidential spokespersons Lorelei Fajardo and Anthony Golez said the administration is sending its condolences to the Beltran family as they join them in mourning his death.
They described Beltran as one of most respected labor and militant leader and congressman in the country.
They claimed that while Beltran had some different views with the government including the military, he was regarded with high esteem as he "represented the interests of our labor force and has been considered a vital figure in our country's modern political history."
Various labor and militant groups in the country and abroad also mourned the death of Beltran.
Veteran labor leader
Beltran, for the past two decades, has been leading the militant labor movement, calling for just and improved labor.
He started his militant crusade during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines when he served as a volunteer courier for the resistance group and later worked as a janitor and a taxi driver before organizing the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Association.
He was also one of those arrested in 1982 during the Marcos regime and later took over the presidency of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) after the murder of Rolando Olalia.
From February 2001 to November 2003, Beltran served as vice president and one of the three representatives of Bayan Muna and Anakapawis in 2004.
Among Beltran's pet bills are House Bill 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (Garb) and House Bill 1722, which calls for a P125 across-the-board wage increase for workers.
On February 25, 2006, Beltran was arrested by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at his residence in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on charges of inciting to sedition.
The arrest warrant was issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 84 in 1985, a case which Beltran claimed had already been dismissed by the court.
Two days after his arrest, authorities filed rebellion charges against him for allegedly conspiring with disgruntled military officers to topple the Arroyo government in February last year.
The charges against Beltran and the rebellion charges against Ocampo, Joel Virador and Teddy Casino of Bayan Muna and Liza Maza of Gabriela were later junked on the Supreme Court (SC) ruling.
After his arrest, Beltran was held in custody at the Philippine Heart Center where he was also treated for heart problems.
Last year, Beltran sustained minor concussions when figured in a road accident after filing his certificate of candidacy.
Meanwhile, Beltran's friend and comrade Representative Ocampo said Beltran's family was financially and emotionally unprepared of the loss.
Ocampo asked financial assistance from the House of Representatives for Beltran's family.
He also assured the family of his help, saying: "We're here to help."
Beltran's remains will be brought to the University of the Philippines (UP) chapel on Wednesday from their residence in Bulacan. KMP chairman Rafael Mariano is expected to replace him, being the second nominee of Anakpawis. (WV/JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (May 21, 2008 issue)
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