P.S. Resolution No. 469

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS }
Second Regular Session }

SENATE
P.S. Resolution No. 469

________________________________________________________________________
Introduced by Senators Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and M. A. Madrigal _______________________________________________________________________

A RESOLUTION
URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT REPRESENTATIVE CRISPIN “KA BEL” BELTRAN’S BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AS A POLITICAL DETAINEE, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL OF HIS CHOICE

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a signatory to, and unqualifiedly ratified, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“Covenant”);

WHEREAS, Article X of the Covenant provides that, “All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. “

WHEREAS, Article II of the Covenant further provides that, “Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

WHEREAS, the Philippines adheres to the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners which entitles a detainee to have full access to the health services available in the country without discrimination based on grounds relating to their legal situation;

WHEREAS, upon President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of the State of Emergency last 24 February 2006 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1017, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested and detained, without warrant, party-list Representative Crispin Beltran;

WHEREAS, Crispin Beltran is the party-list representative of ANAKPAWIS, representing the marginalized urban poor, peasants, workers and labor sector of society in Congress;

WHEREAS, Representative Beltran is a former militant labor leader and was a known street parliamentarian during the Marcos dictatorship;

WHEREAS, on the same day he was detained, Representative Beltran and his family were brought to the Office of the Anti-Organized Crime and Businessmen's Concerns Division near the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame;

WHEREAS, on 2 March 2006, Representative Beltran, who is seventy three (73) years old, was rushed to the PNP General Hospital after being diagnosed with hypertension and is in fact barely recovering from a mild stroke;

WHEREAS, a clinical abstract prepared by medical doctors Reginaldo Pagumas and Melani-Siazon on 26 February 2006 noted that Representative Beltran also suffers from diabetes, and has had a medical history of tuberculosis, heart murmur, and angina, among other serious ailments;

WHEREAS, Representative Beltran has had inadequate sleep after being arrested and detained in Camp Crame and has also complained of dizziness and recurring headaches;

WHEREAS, it is of utmost importance and urgency that Representative Beltran be allowed to transfer to a hospital of his choice on humanitarian grounds as his transfer to a safer venue under protective custody will certainly augur well for his health, well-being, and personal security, rather than remain in the custody of the police and the CIDG, which have unabashedly and treacherously violated Representative Beltran’s civil and political rights;

WHEREAS, the unwarranted and arbitrary arrest and detention of Representative Beltran on alleged rebellion charges exemplifies the Arroyo administration’s continuing policy on repression and oppression of human rights, particularly against progressive and militant leaders and activists;

WHEREAS, such policy discriminates against persons based on their political beliefs, contrary to the provisions of both international and local laws, to the detriment of the fundamental freedoms of the people;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, that the Senate urge the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to recognize and respect Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran’s basic human rights, especially his right to be transferred to a hospital of his choice.

Adopted,


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES } THIRTEENTH CONGRESS } Second Regular Session } SENATE P.S. Resolution No. 469 ________________________________________________________________________ Introduced by Senators Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. and M. A. Madrigal _______________________________________________________________________ A RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE AND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT REPRESENTATIVE CRISPIN “KA BEL” BELTRAN’S BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AS A POLITICAL DETAINEE, ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL OF HIS CHOICE WHEREAS, the Philippines is a signatory to, and unqualifiedly ratified, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“Covenant”); WHEREAS, Article X of the Covenant provides that, “All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. “ WHEREAS, Article II of the Covenant further provides that, “Each State Party to the present Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” WHEREAS, the Philippines adheres to the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners which entitles a detainee to have full access to the health services available in the country without discrimination based on grounds relating to their legal situation; WHEREAS, upon President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of the State of Emergency last 24 February 2006 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1017, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested and detained, without warrant, party-list Representative Crispin Beltran; WHEREAS, Crispin Beltran is the party-list representative of ANAKPAWIS, representing the marginalized urban poor, peasants, workers and labor sector of society in Congress; WHEREAS, Representative Beltran is a former militant labor leader and was a known street parliamentarian during the Marcos dictatorship; WHEREAS, on the same day he was detained, Representative Beltran and his family were brought to the Office of the Anti-Organized Crime and Businessmen's Concerns Division near the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame; WHEREAS, on 2 March 2006, Representative Beltran, who is seventy three (73) years old, was rushed to the PNP General Hospital after being diagnosed with hypertension and is in fact barely recovering from a mild stroke; WHEREAS, a clinical abstract prepared by medical doctors Reginaldo Pagumas and Melani-Siazon on 26 February 2006 noted that Representative Beltran also suffers from diabetes, and has had a medical history of tuberculosis, heart murmur, and angina, among other serious ailments; WHEREAS, Representative Beltran has had inadequate sleep after being arrested and detained in Camp Crame and has also complained of dizziness and recurring headaches; WHEREAS, it is of utmost importance and urgency that Representative Beltran be allowed to transfer to a hospital of his choice on humanitarian grounds as his transfer to a safer venue under protective custody will certainly augur well for his health, well-being, and personal security, rather than remain in the custody of the police and the CIDG, which have unabashedly and treacherously violated Representative Beltran’s civil and political rights; WHEREAS, the unwarranted and arbitrary arrest and detention of Representative Beltran on alleged rebellion charges exemplifies the Arroyo administration’s continuing policy on repression and oppression of human rights, particularly against progressive and militant leaders and activists; WHEREAS, such policy discriminates against persons based on their political beliefs, contrary to the provisions of both international and local laws, to the detriment of the fundamental freedoms of the people; NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved, that the Senate urge the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to recognize and respect Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran’s basic human rights, especially his right to be transferred to a hospital of his choice. Adopted,
AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. Senator	M.A. MADRIGAL Senator