MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer and activist Neri Colmenares joined the senatorial race after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Thursday.
Colmenares arrived at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City to file his COC.
“My senate run is an expression of hope, and struggle as part of the peoples’ movement for social reform,” said Colmenares.
“Sa inyong suporta, itutuloy ko po ang paglaban para sa kapakanan at kagalingan ng mamamayang Pilipino sa corte sa kongreso o sa kalsada,” he added.
He is the former chairman of Bayan Muna, and is a former Bayan Muna party-list representative.
According to Colmenares, “the survival of the Filipino people is at stake in the coming elections.”
He then called on the public to oppose the Marcoses’ return to Malacañang as well as the Duterte administration, pushing further a united opposition against the two political families.
“Next year is the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, and I will be damned if we allow the Marcoses and the Dutertes to stay in power,” said Colmenares.
“All the more a united opposition becomes a necessity if we are to effectively oppose the Marcos and Duterte dynasties,” he added.
Apart from this, Colmenares promised to push free healthcare for the poor, and the end of contractualization.
He also promised to hunt down those involved in human rights violations as well as corrupt politicians.
In an earlier statement, Colmenares said he will continue to fight for the families of victims of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He also said that he aims to be the voice of the poor in the Senate, adding that he would push for the advocacies of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives.
This is Colmenares’ third time running for a senatorial seat, having ran and lost in the 2016 and 2019 senatorial races.