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From the Office of
Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 431-6615 Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com
URL: http:// www.geocities.com/ap_news
NEWS RELEASE
May 9, 2006
'Batasan 5' visit Ka Bel at hospital
Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran warmly welcomed fellow solons Rafael
Mariano, Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino, Joel Virador, and Liza Maza as the
five visited him at Room 427 of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) this
afternoon, saying that the fight for democratic rights and social change
must continue despite the political harassment being waged against them.
"Hindi magtatagumpay ang administrasyong Arroyo sa kabila ng panggigipit
nila sa atin at sa mamamayang nakikibaka para sa sahod, lupa, trabaho at
mga demokratikong karapatan," Beltran told the five.
Beltran assured the five other solons that he was in high spirits and good
morale despite the deterioration of his health while in Camp Crame.
This is Beltran's second time to personally be with the five
parliamentarians since his illegal arrest and arbitrary detention by the
Philippine National Police (PNP) last February 25. His first 'reunion'
with the five other solons was during the preliminary investigation at the
Department of Justice last March 23.
Beltran was confined under police custody at the Room 427 of the
Philippine Heart Center since April 26. He has been under monitoring and
examination for various cardio-vascular diseases and will be undergoing
more medical examinations this week.
DOJ more interested in persecuting progressive parliamentarians than in
dispensing justice: Beltran
Meanwhile, the Department of "Injustice" (DOJ) Secretary Raul Gonzales
should be the one inhibiting himself from the hodgepodge of rebellion
cases slapped against the six progressive parliamentarians, Congressman
Beltran said in reaction to media statements issued by the DOJ shortly
after the 'Batasan 5's march out of Congress.
"Instead of just allowing due course to take its place and justice to
prevail, Sec. Gonzales is issuing knee-jerk threats. He seems rabidly
hell-bent on throwing all six of us into jail, regardless of whether this
violates the Constitution or basic human and civil rights. This is
extremely unbecoming of a so-called Justice Secretary. This is not even
appropriate behavior from one who has studied law," Beltran said of
Gonzales' speedy threat to file other charges against the five solons.
"It's obvious that the DOJ is more interested in persecuting progressive
parliamentarians than in dispensing justice, in becoming a tool for
political harassment by the Palace more than anything else. Sec. Gonzales
is swiftly eroding whatever semblance of credibility there is left in the
DOJ," Beltran said.-30- |
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