Manila: Prominent left-wing lawmaker Crispin Beltran died in tragic circumstances yesterday after suffering a bad fall at his residence in Bulacan province He was 75.
"True to his philosophy about the need to lead a simple life, Ka Bel (Comrade Bel, as he is known in the left wing movement) chose to do the household chores on his own. This morning he climbed on to the roof to do some repair work," said Beltran's wife Rosario.
Beltran, a representative of the party list group Anak Pawis (Sons of the Toiling Masses) in the lower chamber of the bicameral Congress, succumbed to head injuries sustained in the fall.
According to reports, doctors at the Far Eastern University Hospital in suburban Quezon City's Fairview district said Beltran had undergone seizures before he breathed his last.
Beltran, who was known to be suffering from hypertension and heart ailments, complained he was feeling dizzy before falling from the roof of his single-storey house.
Rosario recalled her husband had told her on more than one occasion that he would rather fight for the rights of the masses in the "parliament of the streets".
Beltran's mortal remains were to be kept at the University of the Philippines chapel and, later, at the House of Representatives to let workers, activists and hardcore leftists pay their last respects.
Beltran had been a party list representative for the Nation First (Bayan Muna) party since 2001. In 2004, he contested as a candidate of the firebrand left-leaning Anak Pawis.
Senior presidential aide Serge Remonde said the first citizen's condolence message had been conveyed to Beltran's family.
Secretary general of the militant labour group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Elmer Labog described Beltran's death as a big loss to the Filipino working class in its struggle for its rights.
Beltran had served as KMU secretary general for more than two decades.
Nation First party list representatives Teodoro Casino and Satur Ocampo, said Beltran would be sorely missed by the left-wing movement.
Philippine National Police chief Avelino Razon said he held Beltran in high esteem for taking up the fight on behalf of oppressed sections of society.
In 2006, Beltran was among leftist lawmakers arrested and charged with inciting rebellion as President Gloria Arroyo declared a state of emergency.
Last year, his comrades said, the power utility cut his household supply because he could not keep aside money to pay his bills.
