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Press Statement
21 May 2008
Reference: Jonna Baldres, Secretary General, Anakbayan New York/New Jersey
Contact info: anakbayan_ny@yahoo.com, 1(646)5787390
Anakbayan NY/NJ Honors Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran
As Anakpawis Partylist Representative Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran meets his
untimely demise on the 20th of May at the age of 75, the Filipino youth of
New York/New Jersey shares with the whole Filipino nation the grief of
losing a great role model who tirelessly fought for the advancement of
workers’ rights and who ceaselessly struggled for nationalism, democracy
and freedom of the Filipino people.
Despite the government’s persecution, from the Marcos regime up to the
present, Ka Bel has been loved by many -- most especially by people from
marginalized sectors -- as he lived his life in genuine service of the
people. Two years ago, Ka Bel was arrested and detained at the Philippine
Heart Center on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion as he, and 5
other representatives, were accused by the government of collaborating
with elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a coup attempt to
remove Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from office. The charges had not been
proven and Ka Bel was finally released last year after spending a year and
a half in detention.
As a member of the house of representatives, having been arrested while
the congress was in session at the time, Ka Bel was not granted his
parliamentary immunity, thus making him a victim of unjust and
unreasonable detention, a concrete manifestation of the worsening
condition of political repression in the Philippines.
In a display of unwavering fighting spirit, Ka Bel had also served as
leader of Yellow Taxi Drivers' Union and the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers
Federation, and of numerous unions and militant organizations such as
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and the
founding chairperson of International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS).
As a representative to the Congress, he served under Bayan Muna, and as of
recent, Anakpawis, partylists.
As an advocate of workers' rights, Ka Bel lobbied and campaigned for the
passage of pro-worker, pro-poor bills such as HB 345, the bill legislating
a P125 across-the-board wage increase for all workers nationwide. This,
among a hundred and thirty (130) other bills and resolutions, had been
proof of Ka Bel’s commitment to serve the majority of the Filipino people.
“Dying while fixing his own roof only shows how Ka Bel is tightly linked
to the grassroots of Philippine society,” Anakbayan NY/NJ Vice President
Yancy Gandionco remarks, “He will forever serve as inspiration for us
young people to continue the fight until we grow old. Up to his last
breath, Ka Bel had been a faithful embodiment of a true working class
hero.”
Anakbayan New York/New Jersey will be joining other organizations
nationwide under BAYAN USA and National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)
on May 31 -- exactly nine days after his death -- in paying tribute to the
humble life lived by Ka Bel. ###
Anakbayan (in english: "youth of the nation") is a comprehensive mass
organization that aims to build unity among Filipino youth -- immigrant,
US-born/raised, student, working, LGBT, women, artists, etc -- striving
for nationalism and democracy and for the promotion of cultural awareness
and the advancement of rights, welfare, and social justice. All Filipino
youth are agents of social change, so all Filipino youth are welcome to
join.
Anakbayan New York/New Jersey is a full-fledged chapter of Anakbayan in
the Philippines and a member organization of BAYAN USA, MIGRANTE
International, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and
International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS).
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