Joker joins calls for Beltran’s release

Sen. Joker Arroyo joined mounting calls yesterday for the release of detained ailing militant Rep. Crispin Beltran of Anakpawis.

He said the lifting of Proclamation 1017 should now prompt the Philippine National Police (PNP) to "free Ka Bel, my former client."

"Besides, Ka Bel, (Rep.) Satur Ocampo and others who fought Marcos and who were in jail when the people overthrew the dictatorship were amnestied and pardoned by Cory (former President Aquino)," he said in a phone call to The STAR.

Arroyo, together with former senator Rene Saguisag and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, who were then human rights lawyers, was the counsel of Beltran and Ocampo during martial law. He served as Mrs. Aquino’s executive secretary.

Arroyo said the PNP has charged the two militant representatives with rebellion and other alleged offenses committed during the Marcos era.

"But those are precisely the offenses covered by Cory’s pardon and amnesty. Those are now inexistent and cannot be used against Ka Bel and Satur," he said.

He said even former President Fidel Ramos granted amnesty to leftist leaders and rebel soldiers.

"I cannot understand why these two-decade-old charges are being revived. Wala na ba silang maimbentong kaso (Are there no other cases they could invent)?" he asked.

He also said by going after activists and leftists, the government is reversing the national policy encouraging these sectors to abandon their armed struggle and to participate in democratic and parliamentary processes.

"That has been the policy since the post-martial law Congress repealed the Anti-Subversion Law. That is why Ka Bel and Satur are now members of the House. It seems that the Arroyo government is reversing that policy and wants these people to go to the hills," he stressed.

Beltran’s House colleagues and his family have been appealing for his release.

His wife, Rosario, told a news conference on Wednesday that her husband is too old and sick to be capable of mischief.

"Matanda na siya, 73 na, may sakit pa. Hindi niya kayang manggulo," she said.

One of Beltran’s doctors said the former militant labor leader was suffering from "chronic hypertension and diabetes" and that his blood pressure was 170/110, which she said was a "dangerous level."

In July last year, Beltran had a stroke that paralyzed the left part of his body and slurred his speech, she said.

She said her patient’s blood pressure has to be "controlled and constantly monitored, or he risks having a new stroke."

On Thursday, Beltran’s guards at Camp Crame rushed him to the nearby PNP hospital after his blood pressure shot up.