Press Release
April 27, 2007

Extra labor for Ka Bels release before Labor Day - Recto

COURT personnel can work this weekend to process ailing labor leader Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran's petition for bail so he can be freed before the May 1 Labor day rites, Sen. Ralph Recto said yesterday.

I don't think that's too much to ask if that's what it would take to send home Ka Bel before Labor Day. What we ask if just an extra time and effort," Recto told reporters after conferring with labor leaders on the plight of the 74-year old militant lawmaker.

"With one working day left for this weekend and April 30 falling on Monday, there's really little time to act on his bail petition and release papers," the senator said.

Recto earlier led a group of bipartisan lawmakers in appealing for Beltran's freedom on humanitarian grounds, saying that an ailing old man does not belong in "jail" but in the warm embrace of his family.

Beltran's more than a year of imprisonment has caused him to fall ill. He is reportedly suffering from heart ailment.

The militant labor leader was arrested by police authorities in February 24, 2006 and since then has been detained.

Beltran's arrest came as the Philippine National Police tagged Beltran along with other militant leaders in a plot to topple the government. The Department of Justice filed a case against Beltran for alleged rebellion in May last year.

Justice officials have said they would not appeal any petition filed by Beltrans lawyers for bail.

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