Source: GMA News.tv
Doctors declared AnakPawis Representative Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran dead this afternoon due to severe head injuries after falling from his house in Bulacan. The lawmaker and trade unionist went up to the roof of his house to do some repairs when he lost consciousness and fell on the concrete floor, AnakPawis secretary-general Cherry Clemente said in a telephone interview.
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Labor Leader
From the parliament of the streets to the corridors of Congress, Crispin B. Beltran never gave up on his aim of promoting the interest of workers. The 75-year-old Beltran, born in Bacacay, Albay on January 7, 1933, was a long time trade unionist and chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno before he became representative of Anakpawis party-list.
A Staunch Arroyo Critic
He was a political detainee during Martial Law. He was again detained under the Arroyo administration for more than 15 months from March 2006 to July 2007 through a hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center. Beltran was arrested on February 25, 2006, a day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national emergency following a failed uprising against her government.He was nabbed on charges of rebellion, with authorities enforcing an arrest warrant issued in 1982. That rebellion case, stemming from protest actions over the Bataan Export Processing Zone, was dismissed in 1986.
In June 2007, when he was granted temporary liberty, Beltran returned to the House of Representatives in a fighting mood. While at the plenary, Beltran, in a fiery privilege speech assailed the Arroyo administration, and defended his right to speak against corruption, unmindful of his recurring heart problem, which often made his blood pressure shoot up.
“I am innocent of the rebellion charge against me. It’s neither a sin nor against the law to speak against graft and corruption and the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians", he said. -
Accident
Earlier in the day, Beltran was rushed to the Far Eastern University hospital in Quezon City after falling from the roof of his house in Bulacan province Tuesday morning.
Beltran's daughter Ofelia Beltran-Balleta said the lawmaker suffered least five cardiac arrests since the accident. Quoting attending physicians, Balleta also said Beltran was already declared "brain dead" although still being revived by doctors.Balleta said Beltran was rushed to the hospital in Caloocan following the accident but was transferred to the FEU hospital around 10 a.m. due to lack of facilities.
“Naitakbo kaagad siya sa hospital. Pagdating doon sa North Caloocan Doctor’s Hospital, nag-arrest ang puso niya. Ni-revive siya doon at an-revive naman. Mga 10 a.m., napagpasyahan naming na ilipat siya sa FEU Hospital. Along the way from Caloocan, nag-arrest siya uli.
Narevive naman uli siya. While here in the hospital, four times siyang nag-arrest," Balleta said.
“Sabi ng doctor… brain dead na rin siya. Humihinga siya kapag sinasaksakan siya ng gamot at nire-resuscitate pero after wards after five minutes, nag-aarrest siya uli. So this time, mukhang hindi na rin kayang i-revive. Ganun kalala," she added as she broke into tears.
Grief
Sympathies poured in for the family of the late Representative. From fellow militants and even from the administration members including Malacanang and the Philippines National Police also expressed their condolences for Beltran's death.
"We mourn the untimely demise of one of the most respected labor leaders in the country, Rep. Crispin Beltran. He was a respected member of the House of Representatives where he represented the interests of our labor force and has been considered a vital figure in our country’s modern political history," Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said.
A great leader, Ka Bel, we will never forget you and we will continue your fight for worker's rights.
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