This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 7, March 19-25, 2006
Labor United
in Calling for Beltran’s Release For the first time, labor
centers Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May 1st Movement), Partido ng
Manggagawa (PM or Workers’ Party) and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP or
Unity of Filipino Workers) and other workers groups are united. They are one in
calling for the immediate release of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin
Beltran. BY
MAUREEN HERMITANIO Labor centers Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or May
1st Movement), Partido ng Manggagawa (PM or Workers’ Party) and
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP or Unity of Filipino Workers) and other
workers groups are united in calling for the release of Anakpawis (Toiling
Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran.
They gathered during the Labor and
Parliamentarians Media Forum held at the House of Representatives last March 16.
Labor leaders and legislators condemning Beltran’s illegal arrest and detention
presented their views and plans of action to assert the demand for the solon’s
release. Beltran needed in Congress
In the forum, Congressional Oversight Committee
on Labor and Employment (COCLE) Chair Rep. Roseller Barinaga admitted that his
committee is having a hard time deliberating labor-related bills due to the
continued detention of Beltran. “Mahihirapan kami ’pag wala si Ka Bel,”
(We will have a hard time without Ka Bel.) he said, “We need his
important ideas. We are very interested for his release or transfer so we can
proceed with the discussion of the P125 wage bill,” he said.
The solon said the COCLE is set to discuss
amendments to House Bill 345 or the P125 wage hike bill next week and they need
Beltran to impart his ideas and suggestions for the benefit of workers.
KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog said that with
Beltran's enduring illegal detention, the Macapagal-Arroyo government
consciously delays government projects and bills that will benefit workers and
the people. "Ka Bel's valuable contribution to the advancement of workers'
interests is highly-respected and recognized by his colleagues in Congress.”
PNP insists Beltran’s detention Last March 13, Quezon City Metropolitan
Trial Court Judge Evangeline Castillo issued a release order for Beltran on the
basis of parliamentary immunity provided under Article 6, Section 11 of the 1987
Constitution. Despite the order, Philippine National
Police (PNP) officials vehemently refused to release Beltran citing, as basis,
the rebellion case filed against him at the Makati Regional Trial Court. But workers immediately condemned Beltran’s
captors. “While the government insists on detaining Beltran and the Batasan 5,
progressive groups are even more determined to fight Malacańang's campaign of
suppression directed against critics of the Arroyo administration.” “We are not afraid of the brazen attacks
directed by the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration against the country’s
most militant and progressive labor center. We survived Marcos and his Martial
Law. We will definitely survive Arroyo’s despotic leadership,” Labog said.
He further asserted that the rebellion case
filed by the Marcos administration against Beltran was dismissed in 1988 when
the latter was still KMU Chairman. Labog also said that the PNP’s accusation
linking Beltran to Magdalo soldiers was unfounded. “The government is conveniently using
purported cases to suppress Ka Bel, Anakpawis and KMU. Then and now, Ka Bel is
not guilty of anything,” he said. “He just stood by his political beliefs and
advocated for the interests and welfare of Filipino workers and the toiling
masses.” Labor counsel for KMU, Remigio Saladero of
the Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center (PLACE), said the government is using the
trump up rebellion charges against Beltran to prolong his illegal detention at
Camp Crame. He said Beltran’s lead counsel Romeo Capulong will present Beltran’s
diary entries, passport and other evidences to prove that the allegations
against the solon are all fabricated and baseless. Free Ka Bel Movement gaining worldwide
support All sectors supporting Beltran are united
under the Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM). Formed last March 6, convenors of the
network include former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Representatives Rene
Magtubo, Barinaga and Edcel Lagman, Senator Jamby Madrigal, Labog, former Labor
Minister Amado Gat Inciong, University of the Philippines Faculty Regent Prof.
Roland Simbulan and Anakpawis Secretary General Cherry Clemente. Guingona expressed full and vigorous support
for Beltran’s release and criticized the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s attack on
civil liberties. FKBM initiated series of activities to
highlight the popular clamor for Beltran’s freedom. They are launching petition
signing in factories, communities and offices as well as noise barrage, candle
lighting activities, symposia and other actions.
As actions seeking for Beltran’s release
intensify in the domestic front, international groups, individuals and
politicians continue to press the Macapagal-Arroyo government to release
Beltran. Around 250 cause-oriented
groups, labor unions, human rights groups, socialist parties and thousands of
signatories from Nepal,
Pakistan, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea,
India, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Austria, Germany,
Belgium, Norway, Greece, Luxembourg, Italy, Denmark , France, The Netherlands,
United Kingdom, Ecuador, Brazil, Turkey have signed the petition for Beltran's
release. Workers preparing for more actions
Labog stressed that the unity forged by all
labor centers will translate to more mass actions inside and outside factories,
workplaces and industrial zones.
"Labor groups are united to press for the P125
wage hike bill and seek justice for Ka Bel and all workers. We will not falter
in defending our hard-earned economic and democratic rights in all ways
possible,” said Labog He said KMU is already uniting with various
national labor centers for possible factory and community-based calibrated
protests in defense of civil liberties, democratic and political rights and the
livelihood of Filipino workers.” “The detention of Ka Bel only serves as a
catalyst for the ouster of Arroyo. She should fear her own ‘destabilizing
actions,’” Labog warned. Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
■
Alipato Publications Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Contributed to Bulatlat