the Philippines continue unabated;
Whereas, the Aquino government takes no
effort to curb human rights violations, but instead commits human rights abuses
against the poor majority of the Filipinos and tolerates impunity to persist;
Whereas, Neri Colmenares is a human rights
lawyer and activist. He is the president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
(NUPL), a nongovernment organization lawyering for victims of human rights,
especially the disadvantaged and marginalized.
the Philippines continue unabated;
Whereas, the Aquino government takes no
effort to curb human rights violations, but instead commits human rights abuses
against the poor majority of the Filipinos and tolerates impunity to persist;
Whereas, Neri Colmenares is a human rights
lawyer and activist. He is the president of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers
(NUPL), a nongovernment organization lawyering for victims of human rights,
especially the disadvantaged and marginalized.
In the past nine years that he served in the Lower
House of Congress as Bayan Muna representative, he had helped draft and
authored the Anti-Torture Law, the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Act, the Whistle Blower Bill and the Freedom of
Information Act. He was also one of those who fought hard for the final approval
of the Martial Law Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act which
took years in the making.
Neri Colmenares also worked on the lowering
of power bills that resulted into customers’ refund from Meralco and the P2,000
increase in the SSS pension for retirees.
Whereas, Neri Colmenares is not only an
indefatigable lawmaker and worker, but he also has impressive credentials and
indubitable achievements early in his life.
He is a holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Economics from San Beda College and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of
the Philippines. He was an Associate of
the Asian Law Centre at Melbourne Law School.
As a young student, he was active in the
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and the Student Christian
Movement (SCM). His activism in the
interest of the masses, for their rights and freedoms, brought him to prison where
he was tortured, languished in jail for four years as a political prisoner
during martial law.
Whereas, Karapatan believes that a fighter
and a defender of the masses’ rights and interests like Neri Colmenares is
needed in the Senate.
Therefore, Karapatan Alliance has resolved,
with great honor and full confidence, to endorse and support the candidacy of
Neri Colmenares of the Makabayan bloc to the Philippine Senate.
Karapatan calls on all its chapters,
affiliate organizations and all human rights advocates and civil libertarians
to support the senatorial bid of Neri Colmenares. ###
Karapatan National Executive Committee
April 18, 2016
Cristina Palabay, Secretary General
Roneo Clamor, Deputy Secretary General
Anthony Thaddeus Ifurong, Treasurer
Satur Ocampo
Dante Simbulan
Tita Lubi
Josephine Dongail