Tags: Labor and Employment, Legislation, Politics
By Anna Valmero
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Kabataan party-list representative Mong Palatino believes the country’s newly elected leaders have a lot to learn from the late labor leader Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran,
“I hope Ka Bel’s life will inspire new breed of leaders who are looking for examples of great leaders and heroes in our society. He is a very simple person, a brave leader who is defiant in the face of continuing harassment and repression by the state,” says Palatino during the book launch of “Ka Bel: The Life and Struggle of Crispin Beltran”.
“I was his buddy in the 2001 elections and he is very approachable and well-loved by families and friend. He proved that to push for real change you have to be a committed person and being an activist for five decades is one proof that you could grow old like Ka Bel,” he adds.
Palatino lauded Beltran “for being steadfast in his beliefs despite oppression from the administration of Arroyo” during his three terms as representative of Anakpawis (Toiling Masses). Palatino referred to P2-million bribery attempts of Arroyo administration allies in October 2007, days before Beltrans’s vehicular accident in Intramuros, Manila City.
Beltran was cited as the partylist representative in the 13th Congress with the most number of bills and resolutions filed, and with a nearly perfect attendance before his arrest in February 2006 until 2007 by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.
“One time he was charged with rebellion, he said that if fighting for one’s principles can be described as rebellious, he is willing to be called a rebel,” Palatino recalls.
He adds: “It is not true that activism only breeds violence. Activism confronts the status quo and to challenge the prevailing order necessitates bold moves to push for the issues you want resolved.”
On his second term as party-list representative in Congress, Palatino says he will push for the minimum wage increase of P125 for his constituents – an advocacy of the late labor leader. “Ka Bel fought for the proposal to increase minimum wage and it’s about time. It is also one way to honor his memory,” he says.
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