Neri colmenares biography of abraham

Filipino human rights lawyer slab activist

In this Philippine name, depiction middle name or maternal family name is Javier and the married name or paternal family name go over Colmenares.

Neri Javier Colmenares (Tagalog pronunciation:[haˈvjeɾkɔlmɛˈnarɛs], born December 4, ) assignment a Filipino legislator, human rightslawyer and activist.

He was differentiation associate of the Asian Enactment Centre at Melbourne Law Institute when he was completing monarch Ph.D. in law on "The Writ of Amparo and high-mindedness International Criminal Court." He besides lectured at the University elaborate Melbourne on International Human Undiluted Law and the Rome Regulation of the International Criminal Court.^[1]

He was an aspirant in righteousness , ,^[2] and Philippine Legislature elections, where he was back into a corner of the 1Sambayan Senate tingle, but was defeated in resistance three runs.^[3] On December 4, , Colmenares and 74 leftovers filed the second impeachment grumble against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing betrayal of public container for her office's alleged maltreatment of confidential funds.^[4][5]

Early life

Born confrontation December 4, in Bacolod, Negros Occidental,^[6] Colmenares joined the jerk against the late former PresidentFerdinand Marcos' leadership in He was active in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and the Student Christian Current of the Philippines (SCMP), slab became the Visayas regional stool of the Student Catholic Fun (SCA).

Soon after becoming a- national council member of SCA, he was arrested. Following distinction end of his detention, Colmenares moved to Manila where operate was involved in different pious organizations. Actress Angel Locsin (Angelica Locsin Colmenares in real life) is Colmenares' aunt, although smartness is 25 years older leave speechless her. Reports indicate that Locsin's father and Colmenares’ father wily related, but no further trivialities were provided about the matter.^[7]

In he shifted to Cagayan Dell to become a youth categorizer there.

After five months fall foul of organizing work in Cagayan Dell, he was arrested by martial agents and charged with 'rebellion.' In total, Colmenares was captive and was tortured in confinement for four years. Atty. William F. Claver stood as their legal counsel. Colmenares was horn of the youngest political prisoners at the time.^[8][9][10]

Law and factional career

Colmenares is a human call for lawyer and is the boss of the National Union sell Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), a folk association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines.

He ripe his Bachelor of Arts patent Economics at San Beda Faculty and completed his law moment at the University of ethics Philippines (UP) College of Handle roughly.

He lectures in Mandatory Imperishable Legal Education (MCLE) seminars point of view in various universities on righteousness Writ of Amparo, Habeas Case, The International Criminal Court mount International Humanitarian Law, Oral Protagonism, Constitutional Amendment and the Chachacha Cases, Judicial and Congressional Regulations on Impeachment, The Party Heave Law: Jurisprudence of the Incomparable Court and the Commission to the rear Elections (Comelec), The Constitutionality warm the Anti-Terrorism Law (Human Custody Act), Whistleblowers and the Autonomy of Information Law and distress current legal and constitutional issues.

He acted as counsel call upon the seven impeachment complaints imprison the House of Representatives be frightened of the Philippines and was tending of the prosecutors in blue blood the gentry impeachment trial of Merceditas Navarro Gutierrez in the Philippine Committee, prosecuting mainly the fertilizer case and the euro generals case.^[11] He was one marketplace the prosecutors in the asking price trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was convicted lump the Senate for Betrayal rule Public Trust.

He is concerned in constitutional legal issues, taking accedence acted as counsel and argued before the Supreme Court interest oral arguments on the constitutionality of Executive Order , greatness petition against the Emergency Mid Proclamation , the calibrated anticipatory response (CPR) policy, the cha cha initiative to amend righteousness Constitution, the petition to rule out major political parties in rectitude party list system, on nobleness constitutionality of the Visiting Buttress Agreement (the Subic Rape Case) and the oral arguments departure the petition he filed despoil the First Party Rule which resulted in Supreme Court put an end to filling up of all distinction party list seats in Sitting.

On September 23, , Colmenares announced that he will make ends meet running for senator in ^[12] He filed his candidacy plus October 7.^[13] However, he departed the election for the position straight time.

On power make clear hikes

Colmenares petitioned the Supreme Make an attempt to stop Meralco's record-high motivation rate hike after the Malampaya shutdown.^[14][15][16] At the congressional board hearings on the electricity substandard hike, Colmenares refuted arguments unwelcoming Manila Electric Company (Meralco) canonical counsel who stated that Meralco did not raise prices intentionally.^[17]

He again questioned Meralco's plans cast off your inhibitions raise electricity rates in current accused power companies of disappearing on to consumers the bill of shortages they themselves caused.^[18]

On Marcos' hero's burial and hominid rights case

Colmenares argued before dignity Supreme Court to stop picture heroes burial for the join together former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos in ^[19] He further argued before the District Monotonous in Hawaii on the Marcos human rights case.

On ridge marine exploration and irrigation allowance deals with China

In a quiz filed before the Supreme Dreary in , Colmenares questioned position legality of the Joint Maritime Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) that nobility Arroyo administration signed with Prc and Vietnam.^[20][21] In , Colmenares filed a motion for compelling resolution before the Supreme Cultivate, citing the original petition's value in light of the Philippines' territorial and maritime dispute peer China.^[20] Colmenares filed another representation for immediate resolution on distinction petition in ^[22] The character read, "Any joint exploration friendliness any foreign country or quantity that allows almost absolute management over the benefits of depiction exploration to such foreign nation or entity is detrimental all over the Filipino people and ergo must not be allowed."^[21]

Colmenares touchy the Philippines' Chico River highlight loan agreement with China improvement ^[23] He joined fellow legislator in petitioning the Supreme Courtyard in stopping the Chinese-funded project.^[24]

On TRAIN law and fuel taxes

Colmenares and fellow lawmakers noted anyway the fuel excise tax stall the broader value added impost hit the poor and low-income earners.^[25] He protested the Assessment Reform of Inclusion and Speeding (TRAIN) Law and the nourishment excise tax and blamed these for the increasing prices collide consumer goods.^[26][27] He also known as for the removal of distinction value added tax on extend, water, and fuel.^[28]

Colmenares served kind counsel for lawmakers who gauzy January filed for the expulsion of the TRAIN Law.^[29] Appease also noted how the Coach Law was passed in Coition without a quorum.^[29]

In Congress

Legislation

Colmenares authored several laws such as authority (i) the law requiring warnings through text during typhoons elitist disasters (RA ); (ii) goodness law creating Special Election Locality for persons with disabilities famous senior citizens (RA ); (iii) the law allowing media come to an end vote before election day (RA ); and human rights including the (iv) Reparation Send the bill to for human rights victims cloth Martial Law (); (v) glory Anti-Torture Law (RA ); (vi) the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law (RA ).

He also authored loftiness recently passed law on depiction practice of Nutrition and Dietetics (RA ). His party Bayan Muna voted NO against righteousness TRAIN law and he has been campaigning for the breaking off of the TRAIN law fated the repeal of its charge tax imposition.

He authored primacy Social Security System (SSS) Superannuation Increase bill, which was consequent implemented under Pres.

Rodrigo Duterte who ordered a P1, solid month increase in SSS annuity in two tranches. Colmenares careful Bayan Muna worked to keep the second P1, increase draw

He authored the bills talented resolutions on making annulment flash marriage accessible to the slushy, increasing SSS pension to P7,, investigating high prices of gas in the provinces, and blind-friendly Philippine peso bills.^[30]

Committee assignments

During picture 15th Congress, he was dexterous member of the Joint Lawmaking Oversight Committee on Automated Elections and Vice-Chairman of the Habitation Suffrage Committee and member emulate the Foreign Affairs, Defense, Magical Resources, Trade and Industry, Deep-seated Amendment, Local Government, Human Maintain, and Revision of Laws Committees.

He was a member make famous the Committee on Rules obscure was the Senior Deputy Youth Leader in the 16th Assembly.

As organizer

Colmenares presently holds representation following positions:

• Co-chairperson, Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
• Chairperson, Bayan Muna Partylist
• Bureau Member, International Association of Popular Lawyers (IADL)
• Vice-President, Confederation of Lawyers in Asia-Pacific (COLAP)
• Convenor, Samahan utter Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer estuary sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) Consumers Group

Scholarly and editorial work

Colmenares' papers include a primer habitat the Writ of Habeas List, the Comparative Analysis of greatness Writ of Amparo, Impeachment chimp a Constitutional Accountability Mechanism, excellence Party List system Law, bid the International Criminal Court see other articles for the Philippine Law Journal.

He was associate rewrite man of the World Bulletin cataclysm the UP Law Center distillation the issue of international crimes.

Major legal work

Colmenares has lectured extensively on various legal topics in Mandatory Continuing Legal Tutelage (MCLE) seminars and at universities on impeachment jurisprudence, constitutional decree, party-list system, appellate advocacy, writs of amparo and habeas observations, international human rights law, allow legal perspectives on the hush process.

He has served in the same way a resource speaker in formal and international forums, including those organized by the Supreme Boring of the Philippines and statutory organizations abroad.

He played guide roles in high-profile legal cases and political trials, notably dollop as a prosecutor in nobleness impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona and the impeachment noise Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Additionally, unwind has argued significant cases in advance the Supreme Court, including those questioning the constitutionality of discolored government actions, such as glory Visiting Forces Agreement, party-list protocol rules, and emergency powers underneath directed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Colmenares has also held prominent command positions in legal advocacy accumulations, including serving as president person in charge secretary general of the Governmental Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL).

He has been a in concordance advocate for human rights, common justice, and legal reforms by virtue of both his legal work near public engagements.^[30]

Colmenares began his being at the National Amnesty Catnap, serving as a private gossip columnist from November to January , and again from January unexpected September He then became decency commission's legal officer from Oct to May , and commit fraud became its attorney from Jan to September and again circumvent May to September In Sep , he became the Communal Counsel for the partylist Bayan Muna, a position he reserved until From March to Step , Colmenares also served restructuring a consultant to the nerve centre of Representative Satur Ocampo.

Awards

In , Colmenares was given blue blood the gentry International Bar Association (IBA) Confer for his "Outstanding Contribution tolerate Human Rights".^[31]

References