Satur visits Beltran on Labor Day

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo on Labor Day (Tuesday) paid a visit to his aging ally in Congress and in street protests, Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City where the latter has been under hospital arrest for over a year. As his "sweet" gift, Ocampo gave the 74-year-old Beltran five kilograms of assorted fruits. "But the sweetest gifts – liberty and arbitrary detention – still elude Ka Bel (Beltran). We urge the Arroyo administration to free him as soon as possible to the warm embrace of family, friends and comrades in the labor movement," Ocampo said in a statement. Beltran has asked the Supreme Court to grant him bail, saying he was in stable health and that he was not a "flight risk." Both Ocampo and Beltran are among the "Batasan 6," partylist lawmakers accused of allegedly plotting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's ouster on February 24 last year. The government earlier filed rebellion charges against them. Beltran, also chair of the left-leaning Kilusang Mayo Uno, is a key figure in the struggle of militant laborers. Ocampo's visit coincided with the rally of anti-administration groups and workers in Manila, who renewed their call for government-approved wage hikes. While he gained temporary liberty on separate criminal charges, Ocampo likewise called upon the Arroyo administration to release Beltran. "Many have stood up and spoken against the maltreatment of Ka Bel and have urged his speedy release. President Arroyo should listen to the sound advice and recommendations from our own legislators, members of the US Congress and scores of international parliamentarians, and organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the International League of Peoples' Struggle which he helped found, all of whom have been clamoring for Ka Bel's liberty," Ocampo said. He added that, "The nation's workers and advocates of labor rights demand Ka Bel's immediate release and this is directed at the Arroyo administration which is behind his arbitrary arrest and detention." - GMANews.TV