{"article":{"id":159682,"heading":"Detained Philippine lawmaker files resolution vs. repressive US immigration bills","author":"Lyn Angelica Pano","created":"2006-05-25 08:18:40","modified":"2013-11-11 00:40:14","last_modified":"Mon, 11 Nov 2013 07:40:14","article":"

Having a high regard for migrant workers for their sacrifices and great contributions to society, veteran labor leader turned lawmaker Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Partylist Representative Crispin Beltran urged the Philippine government to break its silence on the issue, oppose the passage of the Sensenbrenner-King bill and other anti-migrant measures, and campaign for amnesty for and legalization of undocumented migrants in the US.

In paragraph 10 of the three-page resolution, Rep. Beltran says, \"branded as illegals, people from poor countries have no choice but to seek jobs in well-off countries due to global poverty and unemployment resulting from globalization policies. Their number is expected to further increase as free trade and other globalization policies wipe out other countries' economies. Most of them suffer from decades-long separation from their families, arrests, detentions and deportations only to take even the most unwanted jobs that globalization-devastated economies such as the Philippines cannot provide\"

He also cites the huge contributions in terms of labor, culture and finance of the more than 12 million immigrants (around 4 million of whom are Filipinos) -both documented and undocumented migrants to the US economy.

Filed on May 23, 2006, the resolution's principal authors include the \"Batasan 5\" - progressive lawmakers Rep. Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis Partylist), Reps. Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casino and Joel Virador (Bayan Muna\/People First Partylist), and Rep. Liza Maza (Gabriela Women's Party) - all of whom are subjects of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's political persecution.

73 year-old Crispin Beltran, more popularly known as “Ka Bel” in the progressive movement of the people is a living legend and epitome of militancy and progressive lawmaking in the Philippines. He is currently the chairman of the national political party ANAKPAWIS (Toiling Masses) Partylist and one of its two representatives in the Philippine Congress.

He survived the dark years of Martial Law, actively took part in the workers’ movement, and remains a leader of the broad movement of the masses. He disputed the destructive policies of globalization such as privatization and deregulation. A former chairman of Kilusang Mayo Uno (May First Movement) and former chairman of the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS), he is known in 83 countries, including multi-lateral organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO) and United Nations.

Ka Bel has been installed into the corridors of Congressional hall of Fame for being adjudged Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for four consecutive years from 2002-2005. He was recognized by the Philippine Graphic magazine as Filipino of the Year for 2002 for defending against and protecting consumers from the deceptions by electricity firm Meralco, and by the Philippine Free Press as Filipino of the Year for 2003 for advancing the interests of the working class.

\"Ka Bel\" was arrested without warrant and is now in his third month under arbitrary detention. The Macapagal-Arroyo regime arrested and has kept Ka Bel under detention despite his parliamentary immunity from arrests, the protective custody granted by the House of Representatives, the Court order of his release, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union's (an association of parliamentarians from all over the world) resolution urging Philippine authorities to release Ka Bel on the basis of the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.



<\/p>\n","contact":"anakpawis_partylist@yahoo.com","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Activist Philippine lawmaker Rep. Crispin Beltran recently filed House Resolution 1263 urging the Philippine government to support the call of millions of Filipinos and migrants of other nationalities in the US and actively oppose the passage of the racist and repressive Sensenbrenner-King bill and other similar proposals. ","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2006\/05\/159682.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}