Beltran falls from roof, dies

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran peasant leader Crispin Beltran, a party-list congressman representing Anakpawis, succumbed to head injuries sustained in an accident at his residence in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan yesterday. He was 75.

Beltran reportedly fell as he was coming down after fixing the roof of his house. Doctors at the Far Eastern University (FEU) Hospital in Fairview, Quezon City tried to revive the lawmaker, who was unconscious for more than two hours.

Doctors pronounced the labor leader dead at 11:48 a.m. yesterday, several hours after the accident which happened at around 6 a.m.

Ofelia Balleta said her father fell 14 feet to the ground.

“When he was just about to go down, he lost balance and fell, hitting his face on the pavement,” Balleta said.

She said they rushed him to North Caloocan Hospital but were later advised to transfer the lawmaker to FEU Hospital.

The lawmaker’s widow, Rosario, faced waiting media outside the hospital at past noon and expressed shock about what had happened.

“Masyadong mabilis ang mga pangyayari… Si Ka Bel ay mabuting asawa, ama, lolo, lider ng mga manggagawa (It happened so fast, Ka Bel is a loving husband, father, grandfather and labor leader),” Rosario remarked.

Though wheelchair-bound and looking frail, Rosario tried to be strong and at one point blurted out: “Tuloy ang laban ng masang Pilipino (The fight of the Filipino masses will continue).”

Attending physicians led by Dr. Arnold Corpuz told newsmen that they tried to resuscitate Beltran. He said the lawmaker initially registered a pulse, but the massive head injury caused his breathing and heartbeat to stop. 

He said Beltran also sustained minor fractures and a laceration on his right hand.

Corpuz said close family members and relatives decided “not to resuscitate him anymore.”

He said Beltran was already unconscious when he was brought to FEU Hospital earlier in the day.

According to Balleta, her father suffered at least five cardiac arrests after the roof accident. She added Beltran was already declared “brain dead” even after efforts of doctors to revive him.

“The doctors (at the FEU Hospital) have declared him brain dead. He was breathing whenever doctors would inject medicine and resuscitate him, but he had another cardiac arrest. At that point, they could hardly revive him. That’s how bad his medical condition was,” Balleta said, breaking into tears.

Cherry Clemente, Anakpawis secretary-general, said Beltran was known to be “hands-on” when it came to household chores.

Beltran had clambered up to fix the leaking roof of their bungalow in Barangay Muzon, she said.

“The roof was quite high. He reportedly lost consciousness and fell on the concrete floor,” Clemente said.

She added Beltran’s head and eyes became swollen as a result of the fall.

Clemente said Beltran was supposed to file a bill today seeking to repeal the value added tax on electricity.

“He (was) preparing to go to Congress but he had to finish some (household) chores first,” she said.

Balleta added her father was also preparing a speech for his proposal to repeal the VAT on electricity.

‘A big loss’

Sympathy poured in for the family of Beltran shortly after the tragic accident.

Messages of condolence and sympathy came from Malacañang and lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Vice President Noli de Castro, for his part, said Beltran did so much to defend the rights of workers and the urban poor.

Malacañang officials also offered their condolences to Beltran’s family,

“We offer our prayers and sympathies to his family during this difficult period,” Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde expressed sympathy for the family of the departed militant leader.

“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,” Remonde said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Beltran is still respected by the administration notwithstanding his opposite views on various issues.

“Our condolences to the family of the late congressman Beltran. We share their grief in this time of great personal loss,” Fajardo said.

Fajardo lauded Beltran for taking a stand based on his beliefs like a soldier and a patriot. She described Beltran as “a true Filipino.”

Senators also hailed Beltran as the “foremost champion of labor and human rights.”

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada led the filing of a resolution at the Senate, saying the “country is earnestly grateful for having been served by a dedicated leader and a devoted comrade who has unselfishly offered his wisdom.”

Sen. Joker Arroyo, for his part, said he was shocked to learn of the tragic death of his long-time friend and province mate.

Arroyo recalled defending Beltran during the martial law years. “We fought side by side against the martial law excesses and when he was incarcerated,” he said.

Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said “the workingman has lost a champion and a friend” with Beltran’s death.

“To the end, he displayed the true mettle of the Filipino worker. We mourn his passing while hoping that our nation will take up the lofty causes he ardently lived and died for,” he said.

Senators Benigno Aquino III, Manuel Roxas II, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Francis Escudero said they were privileged to have worked with Beltran at the House of Representatives.

‘A friend and a brother’

Session at the House adjourned early at 5 p.m. while congressmen and friends took turns lighting candles in the lobby in a show of sympathy.

The national colors were flown at half-mast while lawmakers held a few minutes of silent prayer when the chamber convened session late yesterday afternoon.

Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa suspended the session for a few minutes of prayer.

Congressmen led by Speaker Prospero Nograles expressed their condolences to Beltran’s family.

All of them described Beltran as “a man for the Filipino masses,” being the poorest among the lawmakers with only P50,000 networth, as per the statement of assets and liabilities he filed in June 2007.

“It really bleeds our hearts to lose a colleague at this untimely hour of our nation’s life. Ka Bel is not only a friend and a brother, he is a man whose passion is to serve others,” Nograles said.

Beltran’s colleagues in the opposition bloc led by Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan) also extolled the late labor leader.

He said Beltran had been relentless and fierce in his advocacies while remaining calm and serene as he pursued them.

The United Opposition (UNO) led by Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay expressed sympathy over Beltran’s tragic death.

Militant groups extolled Beltran as a “fighter for the working class.”

“He led a very simple and exemplary life, even the cause of his death was because of his simplicity and frugality,” Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chairman and concurrent Anakpawis president Rafael Mariano said.

Fellow militant lawmaker, Rep. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna, said funeral arrangements were still being made.

Ocampo added that following tradition, his colleague’s remains would be brought to the House.

Ocampo was among the lawmakers who rushed to the FEU Hospital after learning of the accident.

Along with Rep. Liza Maza of women’s group Gabriela, they were the first ones who visited Beltran while doctors were trying to revive him.

Opposition lawmaker Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez expressed sympathy over Beltran’s demise.

“Ka Bel’s departure is a big loss to the House minority, to the whole House and Congress and to the entire national policy-making process,” he said.

He said the administration considers Beltran’s views as vital, especially in crafting policy. 

“Even if he had always been identified with the opposition, I am sure the administration… was always sensitive to his views and considered them in making decisions,” he said

Beltran, a native of Bacacay, Albay, is considered an icon of street protests.

As a lawmaker, Beltran never wavered in his resolve to promote the interest of workers.

He was a long-time trade unionist and chairman of the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) before he became representative of Anakpawis, one of at least three leftist organizations in the House.

Beltran was arrested in the same house in San Jose del Monte after President Arroyo declared a state of emergency in early 2006.

Policemen also looked for Ocampo, who gave his pursuers the slip at a Quezon City hotel. Ocampo, along with Bayan Muna colleague Teodoro Casino and Gabriela’s Maza, then went into hiding.

They surfaced only when then Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. took them into his custody.

Another Bayan Muna representative, Joel Virador, who also faced charges of rebellion, later joined them.

Beltran was confined at Camp Crame but was later transferred to the Philippine Heart Center due to hypertension.

His wife appealed to President Arroyo for her husband’s release, telling her, “He’s too old for mischief.”

A Makati court subsequently ordered the release of the “Batasan 6,” led by Beltran and Ocampo who, along with their colleagues, were “confined” at the House premises.

Beltran was later discharged from confinement at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. – With Jess Diaz, Reinir Padua, Paolo Romero, Aurea Calica, Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, Katherine Adraneda, Michael Punongbayan, Dino Balabo, Rainier Allan Ronda, Christina Paguinto, Jose Miguel Reyes