This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 4, February 26 - March 4, 2006
Solon Arrested
after Declaration of State of Emergency
BY AUBREY MAKILAN A day after President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency Feb. 24, through
Proclamation 1017, a known opposition party-list congressman, Rep. Crispin
Beltran, was arrested on the basis of a 1985 case filed against him. He was
later charged with another case of inciting to sedition. The new charges of inciting
to sedition filed against Anakpawis Rep. Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran, 73, was filed
by Fiscal Ben dela Cruz of Quezon City regional trial court on Feb. 25, counsel
Remigio Saladero told Bulatlat. Saladero said that he was
informed that the charges were based on Beltran’s speech Feb. 24 calling for the
ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Beltran was arrested at
about 10 a.m. of Feb. 25 by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection
Group (CIDG), led by Maj. Rene Corpus in Bulacan. But Rosario, Beltran’s wife
who was with him during the arrest, said that four armed CIDG elements said they
were just inviting Beltran for questioning at Camp Crame. Two armed men accompanied
Beltran and his family in their van. It was followed by a black Toyota Revo,
with plate number GRP-134, to Camp Crame. Rosario however told Bulatlat
that she saw the plate number of the Revo covered with tape. Meanwhile, human rights
lawyer and United Nations judge ad litem Romeo Capulong said that “the
arrest is illegal” and “an act of harassment and persecution” following
Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration of a state of emergency through Proclamation
1017. “Saka kung may utak kayo,
hindi pwedeng mag-congressman ‘yan kung may record ‘yan,” (If only they used
their brains, how can he be a congressman if he has a record.) said Rosario. “So when they saw that the
1985 charges won’t be enough, they filed another,” said Saladero.
In a telephone interview, Beltran said, "lumalabas
na ang bogus warrant na ginamit ng CIDG ay batay sa warrant noon. Ang alam kong
kopya ng warrant dati [ay na-issue] kay Felixberto Olalia, et. al, but that was
in 1982, bago kami arestuhin noon nina Bert Olalia. Sa alleged warrant ngayon,
ako lang ang tanging respondent." (It appears that the bogus warrant presented
to me was based on the warrant before. The only warrant I know was issued in
the name of Felixberto Olalia, et. al.. But that was issued in 1982 before we
were arrested with Bert Olalia. In the warrant presented to me, I was the only
respondent.) Beltran is currently
detained at the Custodial Office at the CIDG, Camp Crame.
Meanwhile, Anakpawis officials are also growing
increasingly concerned over Beltran's state of health while in detention. The
73-year old congressman has a history of high blood pressure and has suffered
from a mild stroke late last year.
Even in jail, Beltran called on the president
“to withdraw Presidential Proclamation 1017 immediately.”
“Ginagamit lamang ito para sa
harassment ng oposisyon na tumututol sa pananatili ni Gng.
Arroyo sa poder at upang kitilin nang tuluyan
ang freedom of association and speech," (The proclamation is being used to
harass those who are opposed to the continuous stay of Mrs. Arroyo in power and
to suppress the freedom of association and speech.) he said.
He added that Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation
1017 is much like the proclamation of martial law in 1972.
"Nananawagan ako sa mamamayang
Pilipino na labanan ang pahirap na diktadurya ni Gng. Arroyo,” Beltran said.
“Ako ay nagsisikap na makalaya sa ilegal na pagkakakulong na ito, para makasama
kayo sa mga laban sa loob at labas ng Kongreso."
(I am calling on the Filipino
people to fight the dictatorship of Mrs. Arroyo. I am trying to secure my
release from illegal detention to be with you in the struggle in and out of
Congress.) Beltran’s lawyers, who left
CIDG at 2 a.m., are discussing whether to post bail or file a writ of habeas
corpus, invoking the immunity of congressmen from arrest. Bail was set at
P12,000. 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.
Bulatlat
She was shocked when the police presented a warrant of arrest for Criminal Case
Number Q-21905 dated Oct. 7, 1985 at the camp. He will be released only on
condition that he provides proof of clearance in a sedition case filed against
him under the Marcos administration.
However, Capulong said that the 1985 case of sedition filed against Beltran has
been already quashed shortly after EDSA 1.