Beltran family asks public to pray for Ka Bel's speedy recovery*

Solon wants to get back to work immediately

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran said that he was feeling relatively fine after the vehicular accident earlier this morning. He was awake and conscious and was fully able to answer the queries of the doctor and nurses who gave him medical attention when he was rushed to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Earlier this morning at 11am, Beltran was in his Toyota Hi-Ace van when it was slammed by a Ford Everest sports utility vehicle along Victoria St. corner Juan Luna St. in Intramuros. He was on his way to attend an activity in Intramuros when the accident happened. He sustained cuts and bruises on his head, and he had a nosebleed as his face hit the window on the passenger side. His driver, Jimmy Miranda, was also hurt. Both of them are now under observation.

Beltran has high blood pressure and a heart condition as well as diabetes, but at 74 he remains active.

Beltran's daughter Ofelia Balleta said that as of now there is no reason to believe that there was foul play involved. She said that so far, what happened had all the looks of an ordinary accident. "I any case, we are waiting for the results of the police investigation. This is the first time that my father figured in a vehicular accident this serious. We hope that this accident does not have worsen his heart condition. We ask everyone to pray for his immediate recovery," she said.

For his part, Rep. Beltran said that he was eager to get back on his feet again. He said that he doesn't want to miss any of the developments in the worsening scandal involving Malacananang's bribery activities.

"I want to recover as soon as I can and get back to work. This is a pretty inconvenient time to be laid up in bed hospitalized. I don't want to be confined for a long time again. I was cooped up in a hospital room for more than a year," he said, referring to the 16 months he spent under detention on the false charges of rebellion. He spent 14 months under 'hospital arrest' at the Philippine Heart Center before he was released last July when the Supreme Court dismissed the charges against him and the Batasan 5 lawmakers.

*from the office of Rep. Crispin Beltran