A profile of Rep. Crispin Beltran

The rising Macapagal-Arroyo dictatorship arrested Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Rep. Crispin Beltran last Friday, Feb. 24 on the day Arroyo declared a national state of emergency and a crackdown on all protests. We hope that this will help readers get to know the man and help in the ongoing campaign for his release. This was written by Rep. Crispin Beltran's chief of staff.

For the last two decades, the name Crispin B. Beltran has been associated with pickets, demonstrations, strikes, and generally everything connected to the militant labor movement. Not surprising with him being the chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU). Since August of 2001, however, he has become known as something else – a member of one of the biggest, most influential bastions of conservatism in the country, the House of Representatives. From 2001-2003, he was one of three Bayan Muna solons. From 2004 up to present, he now stands as the chairman and representative for labor and urban poor concerns of the Anakpawis partylist. Ka Bel breathes, lives and practices the politics of change and nationalism with the same fervor he does as a leader of the parliament of the streets