Ka Beltran Passes Away!

Gabriela Women's Party mourns the passing away of veteran labor leaderand militant partylist Representative Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran.

In his death, we have lost a most formidable ally of workers, peasantsand the urban poor.

He has lived a worthy life in defense of the rights of workers and thetoiling masses as president of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and eventually asa representative of Bayan Muna in the 12th Congress and of AnakpawisPartylist in the 13th and 14th Congress. Ka Bel is behind the proposedP125 across the board legislated wage increase and the GenuineAgrarian Reform Bill.

He has faced battles as political detainee during the Marcosadministration and later on under the Arroyo regime after PresidentArroyo declared a crackdown on her most vocal critics and issuedProclamation 1017.

We grieve with Ka Bel's family and the masses that he has courageouslyand wholeheartedly served. We shall carry on his dreams of leaving hisgrandchildren and the Filipino masses a more humane and just society.