Wife of Beltran solicits solons' signatures for his release

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Wife of Beltran solicits solons' signatures for his release
First posted 04:22pm (Mla time) Mar 14, 2006
By
INQ7.net

THE WIFE of jailed Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran solicited signatures from his colleagues at the House of Representatives on Tuesday for the "immediate and unconditional" release of the legislator.

Rosario Beltran, accompanied by some members of the "Free Ka Bel Movement," made a door-to-door visit to the offices of members of the House of Representatives and asked them to sign a petition to be sent to the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice.

"We demand nothing less than Congressman Beltran's immediate and unconditional release from unjust detention in Camp Crame," the petition said.

"We strongly support the dropping of false, null, repressive, and malicious charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion filed against him [Beltran] by the PNP and the DoJ," it said.

The petition also deplored the rabid campaign of political repression against progressive solons like Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano, Gabriela Women's Party-list Representative Liza Maza, and Bayan Muna
Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casiño, and Joel Virador.

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman helped the group by circulating the petition in the plenary during an ongoing budget deliberation.

As of 3:00 p.m, the petition had mustered 34 signatures.

Those who signed for the administration bloc were Deputy Speaker for Visayas Raul del Mar, Ilocos Sur Representative Salacnib Baterina, Negros Oriental Representative Herminio Teves, Zamboanga del Norte Representative Roselle Barinaga, Iloilo Representative Ferjenel Biron, Zamboanga del Sur Representative Antonio Cerilles, Ifugao Representative
Solomon Chungalao, Baguio City Representative Mauricio Domogan;

Marikina Representative Del de Guzman, Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, Capiz Representative Fredenil Castro, Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano, Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, Mountain Province Representative Victor Dominguez, VFA Representative Ernesto Gidaya, Rizal Representative Isidro Rodriguez, APEC Representative Edgar Valdez, Camarines Norte Representative Renato Unico, Negros Oriental Representative Emilio Macias, Western Samar Representative Catalino Figueroa, and Buhay Party-list Representative Rene Velarde.

From the opposition bloc: North Cotabato Representative Darlene Custodio-Antonino, Iloilo Representative Rolex Suplico, San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora, Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla, Quezon City Representative Vicente Crisologo, Partido ng Manggagawa Representative Renato Magtubo, Akbayan Representative Mario Aguja, and Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez.

Despite a preference by Beltran's wife not to approach Pampanga Representative Juan Miguel Arroyo, the "Free Ka Bel Movement" nonetheless left a copy of the petition at his office, which the lawmaker's staff received.

Congressman Arroyo is the eldest son of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.