Ka Bel: A fighter for the right to free expression

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PUBLISHED ON May 23, 2008 AT 10:41 AM

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Statement
May 20, 2008

Ka Bel: A fighter for the right to free expression

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) mourns the passage of trade union leader and legislator Mr. Crispin Beltran. We will miss him both as a subject of our stories and as a friend of Filipino journalists.

Mr. Beltran was a tireless leader, advocate and ally of workers, including those in mass media. He was a fighter for press freedom and the right to free expression. As a legislator, he supported bills seeking to advance the cause of freedom of information. As a union leader, he stood by media workers on labor and welfare issues, once even joining the union of defunct Manila Chronicle at the picketline when it went on strike.

On behalf of media workers and journalists, we extend our sympathies to Mr Beltran’s family and colleagues.

References:
Jose Torres Jr., chair
Rowena Paraan, secretary-general

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End The War. Members of the youth group Anakbayan denounce the war being waged by the government in Mindanao against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. (Photo: arkibongbayan.org)

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