MANILA , Philippinwa — Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran today slammed National Security Adviser (NSA) Norberto Gonzales for calling him and the other progressive lawmakers collectively known as the Batasan 5 ‘liars now in celebration.'”
“Gonzales is the liar he’s one of the champion liars the Macapagal-Arroyo administration ever had. His allegations and accusations against us and our party-lists are all patent untruths. He has been rendered incapable of speaking the truth and consistently resorts to exagerration and twisting facts in his desperation to pin us down. His tag that we are fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) did not stick; and the rebellion charges he machinated along with with Department of Justice secretary Raul Gonzalez were thrown out by the Supreme Court. Now he’s crying out like the sore loser that he is,” said Beltran.
“Gonzales probably expected us to withdraw our criticism of him and the Department of Justice after the Supreme Court laid down its decision junking the rebellion charges against us. He thought wrong, and now he is angry and bitter and trying to deprive us of our right to celebrate because we continue to overcome tremendous obstacles while securing the support of Filipino voters..”
“We are targets of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s political annihilation campaign, and Gonzales and Gonzalez are the two masterminds behind it. We have done nothing illegal in furthering our advocacies for progressive and pro-people politics; but the Arroyo administration particularly its henchmen the likes of Gonzales have attacked our ranks and leadership through abductions, extrajudicial killings, and the filing of various criminal charges. ”
“We have the legal and moral ascendancy to demand justice against the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s illegal, underhanded attacks against our persons and our organizations. The govenrment is not infallible, and despite what Sergio Apostol says, we have a strong case against the government and its shocking abuse of authority. The government must not be allowed to get away with what it has done to us, our members and our party-lists.”
In the meantime, Beltran clarified reports that he will be unable to pay for his bills at the Philippine Heart Center. He said that it was now only a matter of time before he is released; “barring more of the DOJ and the NSA’s dirty tricks and legal technicalities.”
“There will be no problem covering my bills at the PHC. Support continues to pour in in the form of financial aid, guarantee letters from supportive government officials and allied politicians, and the funds of the Free Ka Bel Movement, ” he said. “I also seek to clarify that any assistance to be offered by the House of Representatives and my colleagues there are much welcome. I am as I have always been, grateful for any show of support given me by my friends and colleagues in the legislative branch.”
“The hospital bills are the least of my worries right now. What is imperative that the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 expedite the decision of the Supreme Court and sign my release papers and grant me my freedom from the custody of the Philippine National Police ((PNP).” #
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