Solon Arrested after Declaration of State of Emergency

BY AUBREY MAKILAN
Bulatlat

A day after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency Feb. 24, through Proclamation 1017, a known opposition party-list congressman, Rep. Crispin Beltran, was arrested on the basis of a 1985 case filed against him.  He was later charged with another case of inciting to sedition.

The new charges of inciting to sedition filed against Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, 73, was filed by Fiscal Ben dela Cruz of Quezon City regional trial court on Feb. 25, counsel Remigio Saladero told Bulatlat.

Saladero said that he was informed that the charges were based on Beltran’s speech Feb. 24 calling for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Beltran was arrested at about 10 a.m. of Feb. 25 by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), led by Maj. Rene Corpus in Bulacan.

But Rosario, Beltran’s wife who was with him during the arrest, said that four armed CIDG elements said they were just inviting Beltran for questioning at Camp Crame.

Two armed men accompanied Beltran and his family in their van. It was followed by a black Toyota Revo, with plate number GRP-134, to Camp Crame. Rosario however told Bulatlat that she saw the plate number of the Revo covered with tape.

She was shocked when the police presented a warrant of arrest for Criminal Case Number Q-21905 dated Oct. 7, 1985 at the camp. He will be released only on condition that he provides proof of clearance in a sedition case filed against him under the Marcos administration.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and United Nations judge ad litem Romeo Capulong said that “the arrest is illegal” and “an act of harassment and persecution” following Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency through Proclamation 1017.

However, Capulong said that the 1985 case of sedition filed against Beltran has been already quashed shortly after EDSA 1.

“Saka kung may utak kayo, hindi pwedeng mag-congressman ‘yan kung may record ‘yan,” (If only they used their brains, how can he be a congressman if he has a record.) said Rosario.

“So when they saw that the 1985 charges won’t be enough, they filed another,” said Saladero.

In a telephone interview, Beltran said, "lumalabas na ang bogus warrant na ginamit ng CIDG ay batay sa warrant noon. Ang alam kong kopya ng warrant dati [ay na-issue] kay Felixberto Olalia, et. al, but that was in 1982, bago kami arestuhin noon nina Bert Olalia. Sa alleged warrant ngayon, ako lang ang tanging respondent." (It appears that the bogus warrant presented to me was based on the warrant before.  The only warrant I know was issued in the name of Felixberto Olalia, et. al.. But that was issued in 1982 before we were arrested with Bert Olalia. In the warrant presented to me, I was the only respondent.)  

Beltran is currently detained at the Custodial Office at the CIDG, Camp Crame.

Meanwhile, Anakpawis officials are also growing increasingly concerned over Beltran's state of health while in detention. The 73-year old congressman has a history of high blood pressure and has suffered from a mild stroke late last year.

Even in jail, Beltran called on the president “to withdraw Presidential Proclamation 1017 immediately.” “Ginagamit lamang ito para sa harassment ng oposisyon na tumututol sa pananatili ni Gng. Arroyo sa poder at upang kitilin nang tuluyan ang freedom of association and speech," (The proclamation is being used to harass those who are opposed to the continuous stay of Mrs. Arroyo in power and to suppress the freedom of association and speech.) he said.

He added that Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation 1017 is much like the proclamation of martial law in 1972.

"Nananawagan ako sa mamamayang Pilipino na labanan ang pahirap na diktadurya ni Gng. Arroyo,” Beltran said. “Ako ay nagsisikap na makalaya sa ilegal na pagkakakulong na ito, para makasama kayo sa mga laban sa loob at labas ng Kongreso." (I am calling on the Filipino people to fight the dictatorship of Mrs. Arroyo.  I am trying to secure my release from illegal detention to be with you in the struggle in and out of Congress.)

Beltran’s lawyers, who left CIDG at 2 a.m., are discussing whether to post bail or file a writ of habeas corpus, invoking the immunity of congressmen from arrest. Bail was set at P12,000. Bulatlat

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