Early this year, workers awaited the passage of bill seeking P125 legislated across the board wage hike in Senate. But now, the prospects for economic relief for workers are not getting well after the treacherous motion for reversal led by the House majority through Rep. Crispin 'Boying' Remulla.
We of the FREE KA BEL MOVEMENT (FKBM) are outraged that the wage hike bill authored by Anakpawis Rep. Cripin Beltran detained has been frozen again. We are also concerned that the Senate is now reportedly on the third reading of a dangerous bill that has grave implications on human rights.
Civil liberties, specifically workers' rights to form unions, wage, strikes and join militant rallies, will be further curtailed in the face of impending passage of the anti-terror bill principally authoredby Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Given the escalating rate of political killings and persecution under the Arroyo watch, we are particularly concerned that illegal arrests and detention such as the case of KaBel will be even more brazen and widespread.
For almost a year now since the wave of illegal arrests under Arroyo's Proclamation 1017, Ka Bel has been detained on trumped up charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion. We certainly do not need a terrorbill that will further prolong his detention and victimize other political activists who may fall under the definition of being'terrorists' mainly because of their prominence in militant rallies advocating the impeachment and/or ouster of the fraudulent president.
FKBM demands the immediate and unconditional freedom of Ka Bel. TheArroyo government repeatedly betrays workers' interests as it blocks the passage of the wage hike bill and prolongs the unjust detention of Ka Bel. We ask the Senate to vote down the terror bill that aims to terrorize the people and suppress political dissent. We also challenge candidates vying for seats in Congress and Senate to push for a legislated wage increase both in Congress and Senate to prove that they are worthy of the workers' support. #
Dennis Maga
Spokesperson of Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM) and
Secretary-General of Alliance of Nationalist and Genuine LaborOrganizations (ANGLO) -KMU
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
DETAINED SOLON AND A VETERAN LABOR LEADER TURNS 74
The Free Ka Bel Movement, Anakpawis Party-list and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a 'birthday picket' last January 7, 2007 in honor of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran in front of the Philippine Heart Center where Beltran remains under incarceration after almost 11 months on the charges of rebellion and sedition. Beltran celebrates his 74 th birthday today, and 50 of these 74 years he spent being a respected labor leader and beginning 2001, a progressive people's law maker.
FKBM, Anakpawis and KMU members and leaders and other supporters held their 'birthday picket' in front of the PHC because they were not allowed inside the building. They came bearing balloons, birthday cards, and a cake decorated with a sign for a P125 across-the board nationwide wage increase. Beltran is one of the main authors of the legislated wage hike bill in the House of Representatives passed last December prior to the Christmas break. A similar bill is being deliberated upon in the Senate under the Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's Committee on Labor.
"We are most grateful to Ka Bel for all that he has done to serve and protect the interest of workers and the rest of the working people," they said. He is a true servant of the poor and exploited. He should be released immediately."
FKBM spokesperson Dennis Maga said that it was an outrage that a convicted rapist such as US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith has been essentially freed from jail while Rep. Beltran, a renowned labor leader, internationalist, and patriotic congressman, remains incarcerated.
"Where is the justice in this? Ka Bel has been incarcerated for almost 11 months, and it's appalling that he has had celebrated the holidays in detention and under the close watch of government security men. He is now 74 and the greater part of his past year he spent under arrest. He should be released immediately. We won't have him spend another year of his life under detention. The charges against him are all false and fabricated," he said.
At the age of 74, Ka Bel has gone through a lot of challenges in his entire life as a labor leader, a former political detainee under the Marcos dictatorship, and as a people's lawmaker in an institution dominated by business and elitist political interests. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration continues to incarcerate Ka Bel despite of the firm knowledge that he is innocent of the charges against him and that he is being used by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration as a mascot-deterrent against those who dare to oppose the government are taking a toll on him," he said.
Initially, the PNP requested for a court order that Ka Bel be transferred to the Makati City Jail. In a letter dated October 23, 2006, PSupt. Dexter G. Rellora, chief of the PNP Custodial Center requested the issuance of a Commitment Order from RTC Branch 150 for Ka Bel's transfer to the Makati City Jail.
Rep. Beltran has been recommended to undergo the following tests on a regular basis as part of his health monitoring: complete blood count, blood chemistry (including lipid profile), urinalysis, electrocardiography , chest x-ray, 2D Echodoppler, carotid duplex scan, and possible stress thallium; and treatment for hypertensive cardiovascular disease. "Given the overall health condition of Congressman Beltran which is the primary concern of the court, it is imperative that his attending physicians be required to submit their report," according to the Makati RTC 150.
Dr. Reginald Pamugas, MD, Health Action for Human Rights, one of the doctors attending to Ka Bel said that to transfer Ka Bel to Camp Crame would be to sign his death certificate. "If the Courts are really concerned about Ka Bel's health, then should release him at once. It's the stress of being illegally incarcerated that's taking a toll on his health and causing it to deteoriorate, " Dr. Pamugas said.
Dr. Pamugas said that Ka Bel's vital blood pressure fluctuates with highest at 160/90 and lowest at 110/70. His respiratory and heart rate are within normal range. For the past months there was no record of infection and fever.
FKBM, Anakpawis and KMU members and leaders and other supporters held their 'birthday picket' in front of the PHC because they were not allowed inside the building. They came bearing balloons, birthday cards, and a cake decorated with a sign for a P125 across-the board nationwide wage increase. Beltran is one of the main authors of the legislated wage hike bill in the House of Representatives passed last December prior to the Christmas break. A similar bill is being deliberated upon in the Senate under the Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's Committee on Labor.
"We are most grateful to Ka Bel for all that he has done to serve and protect the interest of workers and the rest of the working people," they said. He is a true servant of the poor and exploited. He should be released immediately."
FKBM spokesperson Dennis Maga said that it was an outrage that a convicted rapist such as US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith has been essentially freed from jail while Rep. Beltran, a renowned labor leader, internationalist, and patriotic congressman, remains incarcerated.
"Where is the justice in this? Ka Bel has been incarcerated for almost 11 months, and it's appalling that he has had celebrated the holidays in detention and under the close watch of government security men. He is now 74 and the greater part of his past year he spent under arrest. He should be released immediately. We won't have him spend another year of his life under detention. The charges against him are all false and fabricated," he said.
At the age of 74, Ka Bel has gone through a lot of challenges in his entire life as a labor leader, a former political detainee under the Marcos dictatorship, and as a people's lawmaker in an institution dominated by business and elitist political interests. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration continues to incarcerate Ka Bel despite of the firm knowledge that he is innocent of the charges against him and that he is being used by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration as a mascot-deterrent against those who dare to oppose the government are taking a toll on him," he said.
Initially, the PNP requested for a court order that Ka Bel be transferred to the Makati City Jail. In a letter dated October 23, 2006, PSupt. Dexter G. Rellora, chief of the PNP Custodial Center requested the issuance of a Commitment Order from RTC Branch 150 for Ka Bel's transfer to the Makati City Jail.
Rep. Beltran has been recommended to undergo the following tests on a regular basis as part of his health monitoring: complete blood count, blood chemistry (including lipid profile), urinalysis, electrocardiography , chest x-ray, 2D Echodoppler, carotid duplex scan, and possible stress thallium; and treatment for hypertensive cardiovascular disease. "Given the overall health condition of Congressman Beltran which is the primary concern of the court, it is imperative that his attending physicians be required to submit their report," according to the Makati RTC 150.
Dr. Reginald Pamugas, MD, Health Action for Human Rights, one of the doctors attending to Ka Bel said that to transfer Ka Bel to Camp Crame would be to sign his death certificate. "If the Courts are really concerned about Ka Bel's health, then should release him at once. It's the stress of being illegally incarcerated that's taking a toll on his health and causing it to deteoriorate, " Dr. Pamugas said.
Dr. Pamugas said that Ka Bel's vital blood pressure fluctuates with highest at 160/90 and lowest at 110/70. His respiratory and heart rate are within normal range. For the past months there was no record of infection and fever.
Latest laboratory examinations on Complete Blood Count (CBC) which show a slightly decrease or low red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count. Other laboratory examinations like Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Total Cholesterol Level, and Uric Acid were within normal range.
"Cong. Beltran's relatively stable health condition doesn't come so easy, there is the financial burden, maintenance medications and mental stress that sometimes shaking him up. He is taking about 10 assorted medicines in order to keep his health condition in good shape. And lately, he is doing some exercises like skipping rope and push ups. But despite of the incarceration and his relatively stable health conditions, the strong support of mass movement here and abroad makes him stronger to fight the brutal force of Macapagal-Arroyo administration," Maga concluded.#
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Ka Bel's fight for P125 Wage Increase
News Release December 21, 2006
Ka Bel devoted the last five years of his life as a people’s lawmaker to lobby and campaign for the passage of pro-worker, prop-poor bills such as HB 345, the bill legislating a P125 across-the-board wage increase for all workers nationwide
Free Ka Bel Movement Spokesperson Dennis Maga today lauded the passage of HB HB345 in the Lower House, saying that it was good news for all Filipino workers. The bill legislates a P125 across-the-board wage increase nationwide. Members of congress voted on the measure last night, December 20.
“We wish to thank the members of the House who worked hard to lobby and campaign for the passage of the bill. Especially the chairman of the Committee on Labor Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Roseller Barinaga. Rep. Barinaga and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran have worked long and hard since the 12th Congress to have this bill passed through the Lower House,” he said.
“All the more do we feel Ka Bel’s absence from Congress. It’s been 10 months since he was arrested and charged with crimes he did not commit. He deserves to be free to thank Rep. Barinaga and all other lawmakers who supported HB345 himself. Ka Bel has committed five years of his life as a people’s lawmaker to campaigning for this measure,” Maga said.
“This measure and others like it which aim to give immediate and long-term economic relief to Filipino workers and members of other impoverished sectors are what kept Ka Bel busy all these years. He did not use his time colluding with disgruntled members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines like the Macapagal-Arroyo has falsely charged him. It is not a crime to speak out on behalf of workers and to lobby for measures that will help fight their poverty. Ka Bel should be immediately released,” he said.
In the meantime, Maga said that the bill’s passage was also a victory for all Filipino workers who continually took to the streets to express their support and their demand for a P125 across-the-board wage increase.
“Workers from various unions and even those who did not belong to unions supported this bill and continue to support this bill and press for the legislation of wage increases. Part and parcel of the call for the legislation of wage increases is also the abolition of wage rationalization and the Regional Wage Boards whose only function is to keep wages down all over the country,” he said.
“The campaign will now move on to the Senate where we hope that the senators will not be adverse to the measure and pass it before the 13th Congress ends. Senators should approve the bill and make note of the worsening economic conditions of most Filipino workers and their families. A P125 across-the-board wage increase implemented nationwide will provide immediate economic relief to workers who are greatly saddled by increasing electricity and water rates, as well as prices of basic commodities,” he concluded.
Ka Bel devoted the last five years of his life as a people’s lawmaker to lobby and campaign for the passage of pro-worker, prop-poor bills such as HB 345, the bill legislating a P125 across-the-board wage increase for all workers nationwide
Free Ka Bel Movement Spokesperson Dennis Maga today lauded the passage of HB HB345 in the Lower House, saying that it was good news for all Filipino workers. The bill legislates a P125 across-the-board wage increase nationwide. Members of congress voted on the measure last night, December 20.
“We wish to thank the members of the House who worked hard to lobby and campaign for the passage of the bill. Especially the chairman of the Committee on Labor Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Roseller Barinaga. Rep. Barinaga and Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran have worked long and hard since the 12th Congress to have this bill passed through the Lower House,” he said.
“All the more do we feel Ka Bel’s absence from Congress. It’s been 10 months since he was arrested and charged with crimes he did not commit. He deserves to be free to thank Rep. Barinaga and all other lawmakers who supported HB345 himself. Ka Bel has committed five years of his life as a people’s lawmaker to campaigning for this measure,” Maga said.
“This measure and others like it which aim to give immediate and long-term economic relief to Filipino workers and members of other impoverished sectors are what kept Ka Bel busy all these years. He did not use his time colluding with disgruntled members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines like the Macapagal-Arroyo has falsely charged him. It is not a crime to speak out on behalf of workers and to lobby for measures that will help fight their poverty. Ka Bel should be immediately released,” he said.
In the meantime, Maga said that the bill’s passage was also a victory for all Filipino workers who continually took to the streets to express their support and their demand for a P125 across-the-board wage increase.
“Workers from various unions and even those who did not belong to unions supported this bill and continue to support this bill and press for the legislation of wage increases. Part and parcel of the call for the legislation of wage increases is also the abolition of wage rationalization and the Regional Wage Boards whose only function is to keep wages down all over the country,” he said.
“The campaign will now move on to the Senate where we hope that the senators will not be adverse to the measure and pass it before the 13th Congress ends. Senators should approve the bill and make note of the worsening economic conditions of most Filipino workers and their families. A P125 across-the-board wage increase implemented nationwide will provide immediate economic relief to workers who are greatly saddled by increasing electricity and water rates, as well as prices of basic commodities,” he concluded.
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