ARTICLE SERVICES            Reprint this article     Print this article       Send as an e-mail     Send Feedback       Post a comment       RELATED STORIES   Beltran to be brought to Bulacan by midnight NDF mourns death of Beltran, ‘hero of working class’ Palace mourns passing of Beltran, ‘vital figure’ in labor GALLERY 1 Next   Zoom    Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, 75, addresses protesters during a rally in Manila to support the transport strike against oil price increases in this May 11, 2008 file photo. Beltran, a militant labor leader and a congressman, died Tuesday following a bad fall while fixing the roof of his house in Bulacan, his family announced. AP/BULLIT MARQUEZ 50% of flu victims in their teens, pre-teens CBCP happy with poll automation development De Castro unveils good governance agenda Prayer power for Aquino spreads to Internet CBCP head favors partial poll automation Automation firms say machines 100% accurate Hundreds of Moro rebels slain—military More Stories » News Make sure doors are locked when in cab Petty politics in Tacloban City Prayers sought for ailing Cory Aquino Vizcaya town gets taste of good governance Solon: P500-M demand did it Bernard Madoff gets 150 years in prison BoC to computerize valuation of customs goods DepEd owes GSIS P21.3 B Phase out PCBs by 2014 urged 50 journalists in Maguindanao held, freed News Palace makes a clean breast of Arroyo implant Estrada backs mayor in fight vs Arroyo son Maxene files fraud raps vs aide PAG-IBIG issues ultimatum to employers High court castigates abusive Makati judge Arroyo doesn’t care for soldiers Fugitive nabbed for illegal investment scheme Quake shakes Mindoro Poll automation is back on track Imelda Marcos: The best and worst life Building a closer RP-US partnership Nonstop prayers for Cory Aquino; no visits   News Most Read RSS Dakki Contact Person: John Cuenco Tel. No.: 871.7238 / 871.1450 / 875.1178 Email Add: dakkidon@yahoo.com Buencamino Photography & Associates Look for: Erwin Buencamino /Ana Marie Pia Tel.No.: +632.535.5360/+632.7172513 Mobile: +63.917.5410141

MANILA, Philippines -- Anakpawis party-list Representative Crispin Beltran died the way he lived his life -- as a worker, his friends in the labor and left-wing movement said Tuesday.

"His death delivers the strong message that he's a worker; he belongs to the working class. He did not betray his class to the end,'' human rights lawyer Romeo Capulong said in an interview.

"Imagine a man of his stature and at his age climbing the roof of his leaky house to protect his family and grandchildren from the elements. He's really a member of the working class,'' he added.

Capulong ran for senator in 1987 together with Beltran, Jose Burgos Jr., Horacio "Boy'' Morales, Nelia Sancho, Jaime Tadeo and Bernabe Buscayno under the Partido ng Bayan. He also served as Beltran's counsel in a string of cases.

Beltran was a taxi driver when he was taken in by Felixberto Olalia to be part of the Kilusang Mayo Uno in the 1970s. He rose through the ranks to become KMU leader, according to Capulong.

Burgos' widow, Edita Burgos, agreed with Capulong's observation: "His death gives us a message that that's how a public servant should live. He led a simple way of living.''

"If you're a congressman you can still choose the way to live your life. He could have hired people to fix the roof of his house, but he chose to do it himself,'' she added.

She said that while her late husband "liked good food,'' Beltran "loved to eat camote.'' She said she believed that the lawmaker's preference for sweet potatoes was by choice. "He chose to live a simple life,'' she said.

"Joe respected him very much. Joe would tell me that Ka Bel was willing to give up his life for the country,'' she added.

Fr. Jose Dizon, who advanced workers' rights along with Beltran during martial law, said: "Even in death, he remained a workers' leader.''

"He never wavered in his advocacy. He fought for workers' rights at whatever risk. So even after he became a congressman, he pursued his advocacy. He never lost touch,'' he said in an interview.

Farmer leader and agrarian reform advocate Jaime Tadeo expressed shock over the death of Beltran, saying: "He's a great loss to the labor movement. He dedicated his life to improving the lot of the workers.''

"During our time, he was described as the hammer, and I the sickle,'' said Tadeo, who chaired the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas while Beltran headed the KMU.

• Beltran to be brought to Bulacan by midnight
• NDF mourns death of Beltran, ‘hero of working class’
• Palace mourns passing of Beltran, ‘vital figure’ in labor

• 50% of flu victims in their teens, pre-teens
• CBCP happy with poll automation development
• De Castro unveils good governance agenda
• Prayer power for Aquino spreads to Internet
• CBCP head favors partial poll automation
• Automation firms say machines 100% accurate
• Hundreds of Moro rebels slain—military