Manila  - A veteran leftist congressman died Tuesday after he fell from the roof of his house in the Philippine capital, colleagues and family said.

Crispin Beltran, 75, died while being treated at hospital where he was rushed after falling 4 metres head first from the roof of his house in suburban Quezon City.

Beltran, a veteran labour leader, was the representative of the leftist Anakpawis (Children of Sweat) party in the House of Representatives.

He was jailed and tortured during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and was the leader of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1 Movement), the biggest leftist labour group in the country.

In February 2006, Beltran was arrested and detained for more than one year on charges he allegedly plotted to overthrow scandal-tainted President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He was released in June after the rebellion case against him and five other leftist lawmakers was dismissed by the Supreme Court for lack of evidence. (dpa)