Ka Crispin Beltran:

Defender of the toiling masses,

Fighter for national patrimony

We from the Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines (CEC-Phils) express our condolences and grief at the passing away of Anakpawis Representative Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran.

Ka Bel was known foremost for being one of the pillars of the Philippine labor movement, and as one of the valiant parliamentarians of the people in Congress. But in addition to being a defender of the toiling masses, Ka Bel was also a fighter for national patrimony.

Ka Bel knew that the struggle for the environment and our natural resources was also the struggle for the people whose welfare he stood for, wisely recognizing that these two arenas are intertwined and inseparable. In his official capacity as a solon and as a member of the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Ka Bel supported legislation aiming to defend Philippine lands, seas, and communities from foreign and elite-controlled plunder and exploitation.

At a time when the Philippine’s natural resources are being sold off to foreign and private interests, Ka Bel stood in defense of the environment and the people’s welfare by supporting resolutions aiming to probe “development” projects such as coal-fired power plants in Cebu and off-shore mining in the Visayas Sea.

At this period where the Philippine mining industry is being further liberalized and opened up to foreign control by the Arroyo administration, Ka Bel supported House Resolutions calling for urgent investigations into mining projects deemed questionable, environmentally-destructive, and socially-unacceptable. These include the government’s flagship mining project in Rapu-Rapu island in Albay, as well as large-scale projects threatening the communities and ecosystems of Zamboanga del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, the Cordilleras, and Romblon island.

The Philippine environmental movement has lost one of its most reliable supporters in Congress with Ka Bel’s passing. It is with heavy hearts and resolve to continue with the struggle that we salute Ka Crispin Beltran: leader of the toiling masses, patriot and parliamentarian, fighter for the people until the end.

Aming pasasalamat, pagmamahal, at pagpupugay sa iyo, Ka Bel!

Tuloy ang laban!

Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines (CEC -Phils)

19 May 2008

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