Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran lived like the people he fought for since he joined militant labor movements in the last two decades.

His friend and comrade, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, immediately asked the leadership of the House of Representatives for financial assistance for the Beltran family.

Ocampo said the family is "financially incapable" of paying for the hospital and burial expenses of the late congressman.

"Financially [and] emotionally, the family was not ready. Nandito naman kaming mga kapanalig ni Ka Bel para asikasuhin ang mga detalye," Ocampo told radio dzMM as he explained the burial plans of the Beltran family.

He said he and other friends of Beltran suggested that the family should bring the body to the University of the Philippines chapel. "It's accessible to the people."

However, he said, Rosario Soto-Beltran wants to bring her husband's remains to their home in Barangay Muzon in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

Beltran, 75, expired 11:48 a.m. Tuesday (May 20) at the Far Eastern University hospital in Quezon City.

Bad fall after fixing roof

FEU's Dr. Arnold Corpus  announced that the congressman died of head and brain injuries.

Beltran's daughter, Ofel, earlier told radio dzMM that his father was declared "brain dead" after suffering at least four cardiac arrests after arriving at the hospital.

Ofel said his father went up to to fix something on the roof of his home in Barangay Muzon and fell as he was on his way down from the ladder step 14 feet from the ground. The daughter said her father's face fell first. The incident took place around 6 a.m., she said.

Ofel said they initially brought her 75-year old father to the Caloocan Doctors' Hospital, where he was revived after a cardiac arrest.

"We decided to transfer him to the FEU (Far Eastern University) hospital, but along the way nag-[cardiac] arrest siya," she said.

She said her father suffered four more cardiac arrests before his pupil dried up and was diagnosed as brain dead by doctors.

"Humihinga siya pag sinasaksakan ng gamot, kapag nire-resuscitate. This time, mukhang hindi na kaya...," Ofel said before breaking down into tears during the interview.

True labor leader

"For the last two decades, the name Crispin Beltran has been associated with pickets, demonstrations, strikes, and generally everything connected to the militant labor movement," the KMU Web site said.

Beltran started his crusade for the "toiling masses" when he joined and became secretary general of the Kilusang Mayo Uno in the 1980s. He worked side-by-side with KMU leader Rolando Olalia.

He became chairman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) from 1993 to 1999 and then elected to Congress as representative of party-list Bayan Muna from 2001 to 2003.

From 2004 up to the day of his death, Beltran was representative of Anakpawis group.

"Ka Bel breathes, lives and practices the politics of change and nationalism with the same fervor he does as a leader of the parliament of the streets," the KMU Web site added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang and fellow lawmakers in the Senate and the House have expressed their condolences to Beltran's family.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said that the Philippine flag at the House compound in Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City will be flown at half-staff to mourn the death.

He also assured Beltran's partymates in Anakpawis that the group's second nominee will immediately assume the late congressman's position.