KILUSANG MAYO UNO
(May First Labor Center)
TAGAPAMANDILA NG TUNAY NA UNYONISMO
No. 63 Narra St. Bgy. Claro, Proj. 3 Quezon City
Telefax 4210768, 421-0986 kilusangmayouno@gmail.com

NEWS RELEASE
March 13, 2006

"Release Ka Bel and Batasan 5 immediately ¨-  KMU

"With the Quezon City Regional Trial Court's issuance of a release order for Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, there's no more reason for the Philippine National Police to keep him illegally detained at the PNP General Hospital. Ka Bel's detention is unlawful and without basis in the first place." This was the assertion of KMU Spokesperson Prestoline Suyat as the labor group joined Anakpawis in a picket protest outside the Quezon City Metropolitan Court this morning.

Despite the QC Court order signed by Judge Evangeline Castillo, PNP Sr. Supt. Samuel Pagbilao refused to release Ka Bel due to the rebellion charges filed against him at the Makati Regional Trial Court. KMU asserted that the rebellion case filed by the Marcos administration against Ka Bel was dismissed in 1988 when he was still the Chairman of KMU and his supposed links with Magdalo soldiers were unfounded.

"The government is conveniently using purported cases to suppress Ka Bel, Anakpawis Party List and KMU. Then and now, Ka Bel is not guilty of anything. He just stood by his political beliefs and advocated the interests and welfare of Filipino workers and toiling masses."

Suyat said it is very obvious that the government is using the rebellion charges against Ka Bel to prolong his illegal detention at Camp Crame. "All accusations hurled against Ka Bel were comprehensively debunked by his legal counsels led by Judge Ad Homimen Atty. Romeo Capulong. Anakpawis will present Ka Bel's diary entries, passport and other evidences to prove that the allegations against him are all fabricated by military elements."

The labor group noted that the campaign for Ka Bel's release is receiving overwhelming support from local and international organizations." So far, there are 220 organizations from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific supporting the international campaign for Ka Bel's immediate release.

Meanwhile, KMU lambasted the Department of Justice (DOJ) for its misleading and malicious moves regarding the preliminary investigation of the Batasan 5 now held at the House of Representatives. "The Batasan 5 must be released together with Ka Bel."

The Free Ka Bel Movement will spearhead a broad assembly of national labor centers and parliamentarians tomorrow supporting Ka Bel's release and on March 15, a whole day Metro-Manila wide protest wil take place. ###

Court orders release of Congressman Beltran
By Tetch Torres
INQ7.net

(UPDATE) ANAKPAWIS Representative Crispin Beltran has been ordered released by a lower court judge, citing the legislator’s parliamentary immunity, his lawyer said Monday.

Quezon City Court Judge Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen, hearing the inciting to sedition charges filed against Beltran, found that there was no basis for detaining Beltran on inciting to sedition charges, the legislator’s lawyer, Romeo Capulong, said Monday.

"He is entitled to be released. We are just waiting for the written order from the court," Capulong said in a phone interview.

Capulong added that the court also used as basis Article 6 of the Constitution that guaranteed parliamentary immunity to members of Congress.

Beltran was arrested on February 25, a day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national emergency following the military's discovery and thwarting of an alleged coup against the President.

But it was not clear if the police would carry out the release
order as Beltran still faces other charges including rebellion before the court, said Liza Ito, press information officer of the QC court.

Elmer Labog, head of the Kilusang Mayo Uno Labor Center, said Beltran is still being detained on rebellion charges arising from his alleged attendance in a plenum of the Communist Party of Philippines from August 1992 to February 1993.

Charges of sedition stemmed from his alleged participation in a supposed foiled plot to oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last February.

“Government agents claimed that he met with members of the New People's Army and rightist rebels before February 24, 2006, but the House journal proved that he was in various committee hearings and functions,” Labog said.

“He supposedly uttered seditious statements against Arroyo during the rally on the 20th Edsa People Power anniversary last February 24. Ka Bel never spoke in that rally. I did,” he said.

Beltran is detained at the maximum-security Custodial Center at the Camp Crame police general headquarters.

Labog said the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU, May First Movement), is planning to hold a rally at Plaza Miranda on Friday to protest the continued detention of Beltran, former KMU chief and its chairperson emeritus. But he said the Manila City government had refused to give them a rally permit.

Ofelia Balleta, Beltran's daughter appealed to authorities that her 73-year-old father be released. She said Beltran is a diabetic and has suffered a mild stroke last year. With Veronica Uy, INQ7.net; DJ Yap, Inquirer