Beltran colleagues chip in to pay P1-M medical fees

MANILA, Philippines – The family of the late Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran will receive some P1.1 million in donations from the remaining 237 members of the House of Representatives.

South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio said they are calling on colleagues to each donate P5,000 from their salaries.

Custodio filed a resolution late Wednesday urging each congressman to contribute to the financial needs of the family of the late labor leader.

She said the lawmakers’ contribution is a very small price compared to Beltran’s contribution to society and the labor sector in particular.

Custodio also said 23 opposition congressmen have chipped in an additional P5,000 each for Beltran.

Beltran incurred more than P1 million in medical expenses during his confinement at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC).

The militant labor leader was among six lawmakers charged for rebellion in February 2006 when the court ordered his detention at the PHC after taking notice of his medical condition.

According to Ofelia Balleta, the medical expense incurred by her father’s incarceration at the PHC was later reduced to P40,000 following his discharge in July 2007.

She said several lawmakers and sympathizers have sent letters of guarantee to the PHC, promising to pay some of the medical expenses incurred by Beltran.

Balleta said their family is grateful for the House resolution filed by Custodio, which will come in the form of donations to help them defray their financial liabilities following the death of her father.

Balleta said Speaker Prospero Nograles has yet to contact any member of their family but said they are nevertheless thankful for the help.

“We would like to talk to the Speaker personally. Our problems seem to go away each time we talk to him,” she said.

Beltran succumbed to head injuries sustained in an accident at his residence in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan last Tuesday. He was 75.

Beltran fell as he was coming down the ladder after fixing the roof of his house. Doctors said Beltran sustained massive head injuries from the fall and efforts to revive him failed.

Sympathy and condolences continue to pour in to the bereaved family.

Malacañang and several lawmakers led various sectors in extending condolences and sympathies to the Beltran family.

Even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the arch nemesis of Beltran in his struggle to fight for workers’ rights, extended condolences to the late labor leader.

“Although we stood on opposite poles in our pursuit towards the accomplishment of our respective missions, we still respect him. He stood for what he believed in,” AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said.

Torres said the AFP condoles with the Beltran family. – With James Mananghaya, Christina Paguinto