Veteran human rights lawyers Chel Diokno and Neri Colmenares officially filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) as senatorial candidates in the 2022 elections on October 7, Thursday.
Diokno, previously running under the Liberal Party’s 2019 Otso Diretso slate, is now running under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP). Colmenares will run under Makabayan seeking to win the party’s first senatorial seat for the third time.
Both Colmenares and Diokno faced the Supreme Court as the counsel for petitioners against the administration’s Anti-Terrorism Law which they say is “unconstitutional” and should be junked.
JOSE MANUEL DIOKNO
Diokno has been serving as the chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) since 2001. The group has been at the forefront in petitioning against Duterte’s war on drugs.
He has actively criticized the government’s ineffective pandemic response and its blatant suppression of the people’s right to free speech.
Diokno’s platform for the upcoming elections consists of six main pursuits.
First, he advocates for the achievement of social justice for all by making the mechanisms of the local justice system more accessible, affordable, and efficient. Diokno also aims to combat corruption within the system.
The human rights lawyer also forwards strong social protection and the promotion of human rights through the drafting of a Magna Carta for Children, furthering Anti-Discrimination Bills, and so on.
Third, he calls for economic inclusivity and a participative, just, developmental, and sustainable economy that does not pose harm to successive generations.
Moreover, he promotes democratic institutions through the decentralization of government processes to promote participation, as well as abolishing political dynasties.
Diokno also aims to pursue environmental justice and sustainability.
Lastly, he advocates for the consolidation of the country as a sovereign entity and the reinforcement of the Philippines’ independence in its relations with other nations.
NERI JAVIER COLMENARES
Colmenares, on the other hand, is the chairperson of both the Bayan Muna Partylist and the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) – both rampantly red-tagged by the Duterte administration and his predecessors.
NUPL has been active in forwarding petitions for investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the Philippine drug war, with Colmenares acting as legal counsel for the victims of extrajudicial killings in the drug war.
In an interview with ANC News, Colmenares expressed that his priority legislations revolve around “higher wages and regularization, genuine agrarian reform for the farmers, for the peasants, [and] for the indigenous people.”
He also relayed the importance of defending the West Philippine Sea, as well as the prioritization of health workers and an efficient and effective COVID response.
Moreover, Colmenares cites additional pension for senior citizens all across the country as one of his main advocacies. He also authored the emergency text message law which prompted the government to send disaster alerts.
He also stresses the promotion of students’ and teachers’ rights and welfare. However, the official platform for the Makabayan slate is still to be released.
Colmenares is the Makabayan’s senatorial nominee alongside Kilusang Mayo Uno Chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog.
This is Colmenares’ third time running for senate, as both candidates failed to secure a slot in the 12 senatorial posts in 2019, ranking 21st and 24th on the polls, respectively.
Nonetheless, the two continue to stand firm against the current administration, strongly condemning its countless human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Both Diokno and Colmenares also stood before the Supreme Court to argue against the passing of the Anti-Terror Law in 2020.
Featured image courtesy of Rappler.
