Senator Neri Colmenares
THIS early, my 2016 sample ballot already has a name on it. No names yet for president or vice president, and I still have to consult the parents about the local government positions, just to be sure. But for senator, my number one and sure pick now is Neri Colmenares.
Neri has not decided yet – but I sure have him on top of my 2016 list.
Neri is an outstanding three-term Bayan Muna lawmaker, fiscalizer, and leader in the House of Representatives. He is currently the senior deputy leader of the minority, and leader of the Makabayan bloc. He was legal consultant and general counsel to Bayan Muna representatives who served ahead of him.
His name is spotless, untainted by corruption and scandal throughout his nearly nine years as congressman.
Supreme Court magistrates know him as a counsel who has argued important human rights and public interest cases before them. He has lawyered for ordinary people and their organizations. He has even lawyered for other lawyers and judges when death squads targeted them. He was instrumental in the formation of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, today’s biggest and most prestigious organization of Filipino human rights and public interest lawyers.
Unknown to many, Neri is an avid chess player and is actually a vice president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Neri is also a private family man – a devoted partner and a doting father. He loves to sing folk songs, and to crack jokes. He could be one of the funniest activists you’d ever meet.
Neri is as sweet as any Negrense, unassuming and approachable too – but he knows how, when, and who to fight. And what and for whom to fight for, as well.
But could Neri be your senator too?
If you’re from the Visayas and would like to hear a familiar voice in the Senate, if you want a hometown boy to bring a historic genuine agrarian reform bill on the Senate floor and give hope to millions of farmers – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a housewife or breadwinner fed up with unexplained spikes on your Meralco bill, if you want a fearless champion who will guard against abuses of power utilities, and if you want no less than a proven champion who has actually helped bring down your electric bill – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a professional or entrepreneur who wants lower taxes, if you want a tax reform bill passed to benefit everyone, if you want a higher take-home pay to save and to invest, if you want a high tax rate for billionaires and a low tax rate for employees – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a commuter, whether a worker, employee, or student, and if you want to save and improve the MRT/LRT, if you oppose the train fare hike, if you want a modern, pro-people mass transportation system that will unclog the streets and facilitate movement of people and goods – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a retiree of the SSS and if you want to see an increase in your pension, if you want SSS, GSIS, Philhealth, and Pagibig be made into pro-worker agencies that they should be, and if you want better benefits and to rein in on officials’ bonuses and perks – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a victim of abuse and if you want an ally in the Senate, if you want one of the youngest political prisoners under the Marcos dictatorship to help prevent new tyranny, if you want a veteran human rights lawyer striking fear in the hearts of abusive officials during hearings – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re against pork barrel, whether PDAF, DAP, or lump sums, if you joined the Million People March, if you signed the People’s Initiative against Pork, if you want a reliable anti-pork barrel champion in the Senate who will make sure plunder and waste does not go unchecked -- Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a patriot and you want to protect Philippine sovereignty against foreign intrusions, if you want to fight China’s bullying and US meddling, if you want an independent foreign policy to make us secure and free – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a peace advocate and you’re from the Bangsamoro, if you want to resolve the root causes of the armed conflicts, if you want effective autonomy for Bangsamoro and national minorities, if you want national reconciliation with Reds – Neri is your senator too.
If you’re a champion of New Politics and the Politics of Change, and you want a law banning Political Dynasties, if you want a fresh face and new name in the Senate, if you want a genuine Freedom of Information Law, if you want more democratic participation in governance -- Neri is your senator too.
The challenge now is to bridge the divide from merely “liking” Neri to actually electing him to the Senate. To do this, we need a movement of Filipinos who are ready to defy convention and labels, ready to rock and challenge the system, and ready to unite and do everything for an important, powerful cause:
Make someone who doesn’t possess traditional political pedigree, wealth, and party win a seat in the Senate; elect a patriotic and democratic senator people like us could proudly call our own.
But this early? Yes, before its too late. Yes, if we want it to happen.
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