Colmenares, Neri Javier (MAKABAYAN)
PERSONAL DETAILS
Age: 58
Place of Residence: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
Political Party: Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (MAKABAYAN), Labor Win slate
Incumbent Senator: No
Terms as Senator: N/A
FAMILY MEMBERS IN OFFICE
N/A
SALIENT ISSUES AND POSITION
Death penalty: against
Divorce: for
Bangsamoro Organic Law: against
Legalization of medical marijuana: for
Federalism: against
TRAIN Law: against
Lowering the minimum age of criminal liability: against
Anti - Political Dynasty Law - For
Anti Discrimination Bill - For
POLICY FOCUS/PLATFORM
Higher wages of workers
Removal of excise tax on fuel
Abolishing of value added tax on electricity, water and petroleum
Banning of all forms of contractualization
Increasing pensions and salaries
EDUCATION
Primary: La Consolacion College
Secondary: St. Joseph College
Tertiary: AB Economics, San Beda College (1992)
Graduate Studies: Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of the Philippines (1996)
Doctor of Laws, University of Melbourne (2002; not completed)
Honorary Degrees: N/A
Others: Associate, Asian Law Centre, University of Melbourne (2003)
Senior Associate, Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, University of Melbourne
AFFILIATIONS
Chairman, Makabayan
Chairman, Bayan Muna
Chairperson, National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL)
Bureau Member, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)
Vice President, Confederation of Lawyers in the Asia-Pacific (COLAP)
GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE
Executive
Legal Officer, National Amnesty Commission, 1996-1999
Legislative
Bayan Muna Partylist Representative, 2007-2010
Bayan Muna Partylist Representative, 2010-2013
Bayan Muna Partylist Representative, Senior Deputy Minority Leader, 2013-2016
Consultant, Office of Representative Satur Ocampo, 2004-2006
Judiciary
N/A
Local Government
N/A
LEGISLATIVE WORK
Personally authored bills passed into law: 4
Total bills passed into law: 11
Important legislation:
House Bill No. 172: An Act Prohibiting the Establishment of Political Dynasties
House Bill No. 347: An Act to Ensure Public Access to Official Records, Documents and Any Other Information of Public Concern
House Bill No. 700: An Act Providing for the Election of Sectoral Representatives to the Legislative Bodies of Local Government Units
House Bill No. 1535: An Act Abolishing the “Pork Barrel” System
House Bill No. 1842: An Act Defining Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Providing Penalties Therefor
House Bill No. 2620: An Act Prohibiting the Privatization of Public Hospitals, Public Health Facilities and Public Health Services
House Bill No. 3851: An Act Increasing Pensions and Other Benefits under the Social Security System
RA 10639: An Act Mandating the Telecommunications Service Providers to Send Free Mobile Alerts in the Event of Natural and Man-made Disasters and Calamities
RA 10366: A Law Creating Special Election Precincts for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens
SOURCES
“About NUPL.” The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, n.d., http://nupl.net/about-nupl/.
Alfaro, Josh. “COLMENARES, Neri.” Veritas, 4 May 2016, https://www.veritas846.ph/colmenares-neri/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
Evangelista, Alex. “Where do 2019 senatorial bets stand on key national issues?”. Rappler, 27 Oct. 2018, https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/214974-where-senatorial-bets-stand-key-issues-philippines. Accessed 12 Feb 2019.
“House Bills and Resolutions.” House of Representatives, n.d., http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/?v=bills.
“Know more about our Fighter ng Bayan Neri Colmenares.” Facebook, uploaded by Neri Colmenares, 21 Apr. 2016, https://www.facebook.com/ColmenaresPH/videos/1028037020567358/
Lalu, Gabriel Pabico. “Bayan Muna’s Neri Colmenares aims for Senate seat in 2019.”Inquirer.net, 25 Sept. 2018, https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1036086/bayan-munas-neri-colmenares-aims-for-senate-seat-in-2019. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
Manglinong, Dan. “Why Neri Colmenares is running for Senate for second time.” Interaksyon, 11 Oct. 2018, http://www.interaksyon.com/politics-issues/2018/10/11/135660/why-neri-colmenares-running-for-senate-for-second-time/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
“Mr. Neri Colmenares.” The University of Melbourne, n.d., https://law.unimelb.edu.au/centres/alc/about-alc/alc-associates/associate-profiles/mr-neri-colmenares.
National Union of People’s Lawyers. Asia-Pacific Lawyers Group Formed. Facebook, 19 June 2016, https://www.facebook.com/nuplphilippines/posts/asia-pacific-lawyers-group-formedrep-colmenares-elected-vp19-june-2016-kathmandu/10153697734448683/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
Neri Colmenares. Colmenares on the 25-peso wage increase. Facebook, 7 Nov. 2018, https://www.facebook.com/ColmenaresPH/photos/a.668271299877267/1926507544053630/?type=3&theater. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
Neri Colmenares Para sa Senado. Sino po ba si Neri Colmenares?. Facebook, 5 Feb 2019, https://www.facebook.com/NeriColmenaresParaSaSenado/photos/a.2308048665875284/2485389881474494/?type=3&theater. Accessed 18 Feb. 2019.
“Officers and Bureau Members.” International Association of Democratic Lawyers, n.d., http://iadllaw.org/officers-and-bureau-members/.
“Rep. Neri Colmenares.” The University of Melbourne, n.d., https://law.unimelb.edu.au/centres/cilis/about/associates/associate-profiles/rep.-neri-colmenares. Romero, Paolo. “Meet the House panel.” PhilStar, 15 Jan. 2013, https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/01/15/767638/meet-house-panel. Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
