Crispin 'Ka Bel' Beltran was heralded as the Modern Day Andres Bonifacio by thousands of workers and other sectors who marched him to his funeral today.
Contemporary Bonifacio
"Ka Bel will be known in history as the Andres Bonifacio of our times. He is an exemplary leader of the proletariat and a great hero of the people," said KMU Chairperson Elmer Labog.
"Ka Bel devoted his whole life in the service of the toiling masses. He was a proletarian who was always faithful to the interest of his class.
"Even in his death, Ka Bel stirred the revolutionary fervor of the poor, especially those distressed by Arroyo's pro-globalization policies."
Beltran was given a hero's funeral march and burial by KMU, Anakpawis Partylist and organizations under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. Contingents from Southern Luzon, Central Luzon, Bicol, Cordillera and Negros regions came to Manila to join the funeral march.
"Ka Bel led the people in the true struggle for national liberation and democracy which calls for a systemic change," Labog added.
At the foot of the arch-enemy
In the burial tradition of all great proletarian leaders, Ka Bel's funeral march took him to the Mendiola bridge at the foot of Malacañang.
At Mendiola, workers poke their grief and rage to Gloria Arroyo's regime whom they held responsible for Ka Bel's death.
"Arroyo's illegal arrest and detention of Ka Bel two years ago caused his rapid health decline. Moreover, it was her regime who tormented the toiling masses Ka Bel has served, and who always opposed all that Ka Bel has advocated.
For her part, Anakpawis Secretary General Cherry Clemente said toiling masses from urban and rural areas now have more just reasons to demand and work for Arroyo's ouster.
"Ka Bel's death will not be in vain. We will turn our grief into rage against the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
"We will never fail him. We vow to continue his causes in and out of Congress," Clemente added.
Clemente slammed Arroyo for refusing to enact the P125 across-the-board wage hike and other measures to alleviate the working conditions of the people. She added that the people will make Arroyo pay for hundreds of extra judicial killings, enforced disappearances and continued persecution of activists, including Anakpawis members.
Legacy
Labog, meanwhile, reminded all workers and supporters of Ka Bel to continue organizing and expanding the ranks of militant and progressive workers.
"It is the task of the working class to continue the militant actions that will engage the regime that protects only the interest of big businesses.
"It is our duty to persist in this struggle to conclude the domination and oppression of the big, foreign capitalists."
Hero's burial
At the House of Representatives, Ka Bel will be welcomed with highest honors and tribute accorded only for dignitaries.
Marching bands and flag salutes are among the highlights of the event. Workers carrying red flags will serve as honor guards.
From the Philippine Independent Church in Taft Avenue, which served as venue for his wake for a week, Ka Bel's remains will be marched to the Mendiola bridge for a short program. A motorcade will proceed to the House of Representatives (HOR), via España Boulevard and Quezon Avenue.
After the necrological service and ceremonies at the HOR, the march will proceed to the Commonwealth Avenue near SM Fairview where a short send-off program will be held. The motorcade will end at the Angel of Meadows Memorial and Nature Park, Pulong Yantok, Angat, Bulacan for Ka Bel's burial.###
(KMU and Anakpawis Press Release, 28 May 2008)
