{{Short description|Filipino human rights lawyer and activist}} {{Philippine name|Javier|Colmenares}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=May 2011}} {{more footnotes needed|date=May 2011}} }} {{Use Philippine English|date=April 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honorable | name = Neri Colmenares | image = Neri Colmenares 2016.jpg | caption = Colmenares speaking at the protests against the burial of Ferdinand Marcos in 2016 | order = | office = Member of the<br>Philippine House of Representatives<br>for Bayan Muna party-list | term_start = April 2009 | term_end = June 30, 2016 | alongside = Teodoro Casiño and Carlos Isagani Zarate | office1 = Senior Deputy Minority Leader of the <br>Philippine House of Representatives | term_start1 = July 22, 2013 | term_end1 = June 30, 2016 | office2 = Chairman of <br>Bayan Muna party-list | term_start2 = 2016 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|12|4}} | birth_place = Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines | death_date = | death_place = | party = Bayan Muna | other_party = Makabayan (2009–present) | partner = Shalimar Vitan | relations = Angel Locsin (aunt) | children = 1 | alma_mater = San Beda College (BA)<br>University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B.) | profession = Lawyer (Human rights, Constitutional and electoral law)| }} '''Neri Javier Colmenares''' ({{IPA|tl|haˈvjeɾ kɔlmɛˈnarɛs}}, born December 4, 1959) is a Filipino human rights lawyer, activist, and politician. He was an associate of the Asian Law Centre at Melbourne Law School when he was completing his Ph.D. in law on "The Writ of Amparo and the International Criminal Court." He also lectured at the University of Melbourne on International Human Rights Law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-10Oct17-nuplamparo/nuplamparo.htm |title=The Writ of Amparo and its Implications on Impunity: A Forum to discuss the Scope of the Rule and other relevant issues |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-date=May 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507031145/http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-10Oct17-nuplamparo/nuplamparo.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Colmenares was the party-list representative for Bayan Muna in the Philippine House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016, and has been its chairman since the 2010s. He was an aspirant in the 2016, 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |title=COLMENARES, Neri {{!}} Eleksyon 2019 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2019/candidate/21/nericolmenares/ |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref> and 2022 Philippine Senate elections, where he was part of the 1Sambayan Senate slate, but was defeated in all three runs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 28, 2022 |title=Neri Colmenares joins 1Sambayan Senate slate |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/1/28/Neri-Colmenares-1Sambayan-Makabayan-Leni-Kiko.html |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328092053/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/1/28/Neri-Colmenares-1Sambayan-Makabayan-Leni-Kiko.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life== Born on December 4, 1959 in Bacolod, Negros Occidental,<ref>{{Cite web |title=59. BAYAN MUNA |url=https://comelec.gov.ph/php-tpls-attachments/2025NLE/COC_2025NLE/COC_Partylist162/59.%20BAYAN%20MUNA.pdf |access-date=October 30, 2024 |website=Commission on Elections}}</ref> Colmenares joined the struggle against the late former President Ferdinand Marcos' leadership in 1976. He was active in the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP), and became the Visayas regional chair of the Student Catholic Action (SCA). Soon after becoming a national council member of SCA, he was arrested. Following the end of his detention, Colmenares moved to Manila where he was involved in different religious organizations. Actress Angel Locsin (Angelica Locsin Colmenares in real life) is Colmenares' aunt, although he is 25 years older than her. Reports indicate that Locsin's father and Colmenares’ father are related, but no further details were provided about the matter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/10/12/15/colmenares-has-angel-during-coc-filing|title=Colmenares has an Angel during COC filing|date=October 12, 2015|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
In 1983 he shifted to Cagayan Valley to become a youth organizer there. After five months of organizing work in Cagayan Valley, he was arrested by military agents and charged with 'rebellion.' In total, Colmenares was jailed and was tortured in captivity for four years. Atty. William F. Claver stood as his legal counsel. Colmenares was one of the youngest political prisoners at the time.<ref name="bu">[http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2009/09/07/bayan-muna-rep-neri-colmenares/ Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares]</ref><ref name="bup1">[http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2007/01/27/neri-colmenares-on-torture-a-human-rights-code-and-movie-acting/ Neri Colmenares On Torture, a Human Rights Code and Movie Acting]</ref><ref name="bup2">'[http://www.bulatlat.com/main/2007/01/27/neri-colmenares-on-torture-a-human-rights-code-and-movie-acting/2/ Neri Colmenares On Torture, a Human Rights Code and Movie Acting], part 2</ref>
===As chess player=== Neri Colmenares learned to play chess at age 7. He was Palarong Pambansa champion in the Visayas<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=February 22, 2019|title=Colmenares mad skills in chess helped him get through martial law torture, detention: He played blindfold vs his guards!|url=https://politiko.com.ph/2019/02/22/colmenares-mad-skills-in-chess-helped-him-get-through-martial-law-torture-detention-he-played-blindfold-vs-his-guards/politiko-lokal/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Politiko |language=en-US}}</ref> and placed second in the Palarong Pambansa in 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 5, 2021|title=Chess is life! Colmenares can play chess blindfolded|url=https://politiko.com.ph/2021/10/05/chess-is-life-colmenares-can-play-chess-blindfolded/snitch-network/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Politiko|language=en-US}}</ref>
While in detention during martial law, he would play chess blindfolded against jail guards.<ref name=":3" />
In 2015, Colmenares was the director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and chair its of its grassroots and development committee.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2015-09-01 |title=Colmenares: Lawmaker by day, chess player in his spare time |url=https://politiko.com.ph/2015/09/01/neri-colmenares-lawmaker-by-day-a-chess-player-in-his-spare-time/politiko-lokal/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Politiko |language=en-US}}</ref> He has been the vice president of the NCFP as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neri Colmenares {{!}} Eleksyon 2022 |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2022/candidates/nericolmenares/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=GMA News |language=en}}</ref>
==Law and political career== Colmenares is a human rights lawyer and is the president of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), a national association of human rights lawyers in the Philippines. He finished his Bachelor of Arts in Economics at San Beda College and completed his law degree at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law.
He lectures in Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminars and in various universities on the Writ of Amparo, Habeas Data, The International Criminal Court and International Humanitarian Law, Oral Advocacy, Constitutional Amendment and the Chacha Cases, Judicial and Congressional Jurisprudence on Impeachment, The Party List Law: Jurisprudence of the Supreme Court and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), The Constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Law (Human Security Act), Whistleblowers and the Freedom of Information Law and other current legal and constitutional issues.
He acted as counsel of the seven impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives of the Philippines and was one of the prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Merceditas Navarro Gutierrez in the Philippine Senate, prosecuting mainly the fertilizer scam case and the euro generals case.<ref name="ree">{{Cite web |url=http://focusweb.org/philippines/content/view/428/52/ |title=Party-list Winners: Whose Interests are Represented? |access-date=July 19, 2010 |archive-date=September 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903011741/http://focusweb.org/philippines/content/view/428/52/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was one of the prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was convicted by the Senate for Betrayal of Public Trust.
He is involved in constitutional legal issues, having acted as counsel and argued before the Supreme Court in oral arguments on the constitutionality of Executive Order 464, the petition against the Emergency Rule Proclamation 1017, the calibrated preemptive response (CPR) policy, the cha cha initiative to amend the Constitution, the petition to disqualify major political parties in the party list system, on the constitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement (the Subic Rape Case) and the oral arguments on the petition he filed against the First Party Rule which resulted in Supreme Court decision filling up of all the party list seats in Congress.
On September 23, 2021, Colmenares announced that he will be running for senator in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 23, 2021 |title=Neri Colmenares declares 2022 senatorial bid |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/23/Neri-Colmenares-2022-senator-election.html |access-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006094541/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/9/23/Neri-Colmenares-2022-senator-election.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He filed his candidacy on October 7.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarao |first=Zacarian |date=October 7, 2021 |title=Colmenares files COC for Senate seat |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1498297/colmenares-files-coc-for-senate-seat |access-date=March 28, 2022 |website=Inquirer |language=en}}</ref> However, he lost the election for the third straight time.
On December 4, 2024, Colmenares and 74 others filed the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing betrayal of public trust for her office's alleged misuse of confidential funds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lalu|first=Gabriel Pabico|title=VP Sara Duterte faces 2nd impeachment rap|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2012345/vp-sara-duterte-faces-2nd-impeachment-rap|access-date=December 4, 2024|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|publisher=INQUIRER.net|date=December 4, 2024|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=De Leon|first=Dwight|title=Sara Duterte slapped with second impeachment complaint|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/progressive-groups-file-second-impeachment-complaint-vice-president-sara-duterte-december-2024/|access-date=December 4, 2024|work=Rappler|publisher=Rappler Inc.|date=December 4, 2024|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref> By February 2025, it was consolidated with two other complaints into a single impeachment complaint and signed by 240 lawmakers out of 305, reaching the 1/3 votes threshold and impeaching Vice President Duterte.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lalu|first=Gabriel Pabico|title=House: Lawmakers backing Sara Duterte impeachment now at 240 |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2032717/house-lawmakers-backing-sara-duterte-impeachment-now-at-240|access-date=January 28, 2026|work=Inquirer.net|date=February 7, 2025|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref>
On January 26, 2026, Colmenares and 35 others filed the second impeachment complaint against President Bongbong Marcos, citing his potential involvement in the "BBM Parametric Formula" used by the Department of Public Works and Highways, which they alleged to have allowed systemic corruption in government, as well as his alleged involvement in kickback schemes and unprogrammed appropriations.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lalu|first=Gabriel Pabico|title=Marcos impeachment: 2nd complaint filed, Makabayan unsure of inclusion|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2173232/marcos-impeachment-2nd-complaint-filed-makabayan-unsure-of-inclusion|access-date=January 28, 2026|work=Inquirer.net|date=January 26, 2026|location=Manila, Philippines}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Flores|first=Dominique Nicole|title=While Makabayan files impeach rap vs Marcos, referral still uncertain|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/01/26/2503623/while-makabayan-files-impeach-rap-vs-marcos-referral-still-uncertain|access-date=January 28, 2026|work=Philstar.com|date=January 26, 2026|location=Manila, Philippines|quote=Unlike the first complaint, the second was submitted by 36 members of progressive groups[...]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Basilio|first=Kenneth Christiane L.|title=House Justice Committee to review Marcos ouster complaints next week|url=https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2026/01/27/726874/house-justice-committee-to-review-marcos-ouster-complaints-next-week/|access-date=January 28, 2026|work=BusinessWorld Online|date=January 27, 2026}}</ref> A week later on February 2, Colmenares was also among the complainants who filed the first new impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte since the Supreme Court ruling that deemed prior impeachment attempts against her to be unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dizon|first1=David|last2=Gregorio|first2=Agatha|last3=Gulla|first3=Vivienne|title='Today is the day': 2 new impeachment complaints filed vs Sara Duterte|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/2/-today-is-the-day-makabayan-to-refile-impeach-complaint-vs-sara-duterte-0752|access-date=February 3, 2026|work=ABS-CBN News|date=February 2, 2026|location=Manila|quote=The first one was endorsed by Makabayan lawmakers Antonio Tinio, Renee Co, and Sarah Elago, with former lawmakers France Castro and Neri Colmenares among the named complainants.}}</ref>
===On power rate hikes=== Colmenares petitioned the Supreme Court to stop Meralco's record-high power rate hike after the 2013 Malampaya shutdown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2014/03/18/1302116/tro-ng-sc-sinuway-contempt-vs-meralco|title=TRO ng SC sinuway... Contempt vs Meralco {{!}} Pilipino Star Ngayon|last1=Bermudo|first1=Ludy|last2=Layson|first2=Mer|date=March 18, 2014|website=Philstar|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/02/08/19/makabayan-bloc-urges-sc-to-act-on-2013-petition-vs-meralco-rate-hike|title=Makabayan bloc urges SC to act on 2013 petition vs Meralco rate hike|last=Navallo|first=Mike|date=February 8, 2019|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/347139/money/companies/colmenares-erc-may-be-criminally-liable-for-allowing-meralco-rate-hike/|title=Colmenares: ERC may be criminally liable for allowing Meralco rate hike|last=Arcangel|first=Xianne|date=February 5, 2014|website=GMA News Online|language=en-US|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> At the 2014 congressional committee hearings on the electricity rate hike, Colmenares refuted arguments by Manila Electric Company (Meralco) legal counsel who stated that Meralco did not raise prices intentionally.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/48632-meralco-inflate-power-charges/|title=Meralco: We did not mean to inflate power charges|last=Fonbuena|first=Carmela|date=January 22, 2014|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
He again questioned Meralco's plans to raise electricity rates in 2019 and accused power companies of passing on to consumers the cost of shortages they themselves caused.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/04/28/colmenares-questions-why-consumers-should-pay-higher-power-rates|title=Colmenares questions why consumers should pay higher power rates|last=Quismorio|first=Ellson|date=April 28, 2019|website=Manila Bulletin News|language=en-US|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
===On Marcos' hero's burial and human rights case=== Colmenares argued before the Supreme Court to stop the heroes burial for the late former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/31/sc-supreme-court-oral-arguments-marcos-heros-burial-libingan-ng-mga-bayani.html|title=SC hears arguments on Marcos' hero's burial|last=Almario|first=Anjo|date=August 31, 2016|website=CNN|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=June 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619194315/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/08/31/sc-supreme-court-oral-arguments-marcos-heros-burial-libingan-ng-mga-bayani.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also argued before the District Court in Hawaii on the Marcos human rights case.
===On joint marine exploration and irrigation loan deals with China=== In a petition filed before the Supreme Court in 2008, Colmenares questioned the legality of the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) that the Arroyo administration signed with China and Vietnam.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/105335/group-seek-sc-ruling-on-legality-of-joint-exploration-deal-inked-by-arroyo-admin-china|title=Group seek SC ruling on legality of joint exploration deal inked by Arroyo admin, China|last=Torres-Tupas|first=Tetch|date=May 29, 2014|website=Inquirer|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/217228-supreme-court-urged-decide-on-petition-against-joint-marine-seismic-undertaking/|title=SC urged: Rule now on 2008 petition vs exploration deal with China|website=Rappler|date=November 21, 2018 |language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> In 2014, Colmenares filed a motion for immediate resolution before the Supreme Court, citing the original petition's importance in light of the Philippines' territorial and maritime dispute with China.<ref name=":0" /> Colmenares filed another motion for immediate resolution on the petition in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/23/18/sc-asked-to-rule-on-petition-seeking-to-nullify-2005-joint-exploration-deal|title=SC asked to rule on petition seeking to nullify 2005 joint exploration deal|last=Navallo|first=Mike|date=November 23, 2018|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> The motion read, "Any joint exploration with any foreign country or entity that allows almost absolute control over the benefits of the exploration to such foreign country or entity is detrimental to the Filipino people and therefore must not be allowed."<ref name=":1" />
Colmenares questioned the Philippines' Chico River irrigation loan agreement with China in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/28/chico-river-pump-irrigation-project-china-philippines-colmenares.html|title=Colmenares exposes 'onerous,' 'one-sided' loan agreement between PH, China|date=March 1, 2019|website=CNN|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019|archive-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304005952/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/28/chico-river-pump-irrigation-project-china-philippines-colmenares.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He joined fellow lawmakers in petitioning the Supreme Court in stopping the Chinese-funded project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1103055/colmenares-groups-ask-sc-to-stop-chinese-funded-chico-river-project|title=Colmenares, groups ask SC to stop Chinese-funded Chico River project|last=Lalu|first=Gabriel Pabico|date=April 4, 2019|website=Inquirer|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
===On TRAIN law and fuel taxes=== Colmenares and fellow lawmakers noted how the fuel excise tax and the broader value added tax hit the poor and low-income earners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/25/1836589/lawmakers-press-supreme-court-stop-train-law|title=Lawmakers press Supreme Court to stop TRAIN law|last=Punay|first=Edu|date=July 25, 2018|website=Philstar|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> He protested the Tax Reform of Inclusion and Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law and the fuel excise tax and blamed these for the increasing prices of consumer goods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/224289-senate-bets-hit-train-law-fuel-excise-tax/|title=Senatorial bets hit TRAIN law, fuel excise tax|date=February 25, 2019|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://verafiles.org/articles/colmenares-clearer-stand-issues-independent-candidate|title=Colmenares: clearer stand on issues as independent candidate|last=Bacungan|first=VJ|date=April 25, 2019|website=Vera Files|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> He also called for the removal of the value added tax on power, water, and fuel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/02/25/1896648/senate-bets-want-junk-train-law-fuel-taxes-cool-inflation|title=Senate bets want to junk TRAIN law, fuel taxes to cool inflation|date=February 25, 2019|website=Philstar|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref>
Colmenares served as counsel for lawmakers who in January 2018 filed for the suspension of the TRAIN Law.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/16/18/makabayan-bloc-urges-sc-to-act-on-petition-vs-train-law|title=Makabayan bloc urges SC to act on petition vs. TRAIN law|last=Navallo|first=Mike|date=November 16, 2018|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=May 4, 2019}}</ref> He also noted how the TRAIN Law was passed in Congress without a quorum.<ref name=":2" />
===As counsel to drug war victims=== Colmenares serves as legal counsel to Philippine drug war victims and their families.<ref>{{Cite web|last=See|first=Aie Balagtas|date=March 28, 2024|title='We want the trial to start': What happens now to ICC's probe into Duterte's drug war?|url=https://pcij.org/2024/03/28/ejk-victims-kin-await-duterte-icc-trial/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, Colmenares was a panelist at a legal forum organized by the University of the Philippines College of Law on the International Criminal Court investigation in the Philippines.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal Forum: The International Criminal Court's Investigation, Responses by Philippine Lawyers|url=https://law.upd.edu.ph/IILS/pages/legal-forum-the-international-criminal-courts-investigation-responses-by-philippine-lawyers/|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=UP College of Law|language=en-US}}</ref> He was also a resource speaker at the 2024 House of Representatives Quad Committee hearings that investigated the possible links between the drug war, extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, and Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flores|first=Dominique Nicole|title=Families of EJK victims seek justice from ICC trial amid challenges in filing local cases |url=https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2024/10/13/2392220/families-ejk-victims-seek-justice-icc-trial-amid-challenges-filing-local-cases|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Philippine Star}}</ref>
===In Congress=== Colmenares was the party-list representative for Bayan Muna in the Philippine House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last= |first=|date=February 18, 2022|title=Vera Files Fact Check: No, Neri Colmenares is not in Robredo's senatorial lineup |url=https://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-check-no-neri-colmenares-not-robredos-senato|access-date=July 28, 2025|website=Vera Files|language=en-US}}</ref> He served as the Senior Deputy Minority Leader in the 16th Congress.<ref name=":4" />
====Legislation==== Colmenares authored several laws such as the (i) the law requiring warnings through text during typhoons and disasters (RA 10639); (ii) the law creating Special Election Precincts for persons with disabilities and senior citizens (RA 10633); (iii) the law allowing media to vote before election day (RA 10380); and human rights laws including the (iv) Reparation Law for human rights victims during Martial Law (10368); (v) the Anti-Torture Law (RA 9745); (vi) the Anti-Enforced Disappearance Law (RA 10353). He also authored the recently passed law on the practice of Nutrition and Dietetics (RA 10862). His party Bayan Muna voted NO against the TRAIN law and he has been campaigning for the suspension of the TRAIN law pending the repeal of its excise tax imposition.
He authored the Social Security System (SSS) Pension Increase bill, which was later implemented under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte who ordered a P1,000 per month increase in SSS pension in two tranches. Colmenares and Bayan Muna worked to have the second P1,000 increase in 2018.
He authored the bills and resolutions on making annulment of marriage accessible to the poor, increasing SSS pension to P7,000, investigating high prices of gasoline in the provinces, and blind-friendly Philippine peso bills.<ref name="alc">{{Cite web |url=http://alc.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/people-at-the-alc/associates/index.cfm |title=ALC Associates |access-date=April 25, 2011 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430083243/http://alc.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/people-at-the-alc/associates/index.cfm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
====Committee assignments==== During the 15th Congress, he was a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Automated Elections and Vice-Chairman of the House Suffrage Committee and member of the Foreign Affairs, Defense, Natural Resources, Trade and Industry, Constitutional Amendment, Local Government, Human Rights, and Revision of Laws Committees.
He was a member of the Committee on Rules. thumb|Neri Colmenares, speaking at the International Human Rights Day protest in Manila, December 10, 2020.
===As organizer=== [[File:Neri Colmenares, Anti-Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 Mobilization, December 2021.jpg|thumb|Colmenares, speaking at a mobilization against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, December, 2021]] Colmenares presently holds the following positions: * Co-chairperson, Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan * Chairperson, Bayan Muna Partylist * Bureau Member, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) * Vice-President, Confederation of Lawyers in Asia-Pacific (COLAP) * Convenor, Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) Consumers Group
===Scholarly and editorial work=== Colmenares' papers include a primer on the Writ of Habeas Data, the Comparative Analysis of the Writ of Amparo, Impeachment as a Constitutional Accountability Mechanism, the Party List system Law, and the International Criminal Court and other articles for the ''Philippine Law Journal''.
He was associate editor of the ''World Bulletin'' of the UP Law Center on the issue of international crimes.
==Electoral history== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" |+ Electoral history of Neri Colmenares !rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;"| Year !rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;"| Office !colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;"| Party !colspan="4" style="background:#eaecf0;"| Votes received !rowspan="2" style="background:#eaecf0;"| Result |- !style="background:#eaecf0;"| Total !style="background:#eaecf0;"| % !style="background:#eaecf0;"| {{abbr|2=Position|P}}. !style="background:#eaecf0;"| Swing |- ! 2007 |rowspan="4"| Representative (Party-list) |rowspan="4" style="background:{{party color|Bayan Muna}};"| |rowspan="4"| Bayan Muna | 979,189 | 6.11% | 2nd | {{n/a}} | {{Won}} |- ! 2010 | 750,100 | 2.49% | 9th | -3.62 | {{Won}} |- ! 2013 | 954,724 | 3.45% | 3rd | +0.96 | {{Won}} |- ! 2025 | 162,894 | 0.39% | 77th | -3.06 | {{Lost}} |- ! 2016 |rowspan="3"| Senator of the Philippines |rowspan="3" style="background:{{party color|Makabayan}};"| |rowspan="3"| Makabayan | 6,484,985 | 14.42% | 20th | {{n/a}} | {{Lost}} |- ! 2019 | 4,683,942 | 9.90% | 24th | -4.52 | {{Lost}} |- ! 2022 | 6,098,782 | 10.98% | 24th | +1.08 | {{Lost}} |}
==Major legal work== {{BLP sources section|date=January 2020}} Colmenares has lectured extensively on various legal topics in Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) seminars and at universities on impeachment jurisprudence, constitutional law, party-list system, appellate advocacy, writs of amparo and habeas data, international human rights law, and legal perspectives on the peace process. He has served as a resource speaker in national and international forums, including those organized by the Supreme Court of the Philippines and legal organizations abroad.
He played key roles in high-profile legal cases and political trials, notably serving as a prosecutor in the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona and the impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Additionally, he has argued significant cases before the Supreme Court, including those questioning the constitutionality of key government actions, such as the Visiting Forces Agreement, party-list representation rules, and emergency powers under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Colmenares has also held prominent leadership positions in legal advocacy groups, including serving as president and secretary general of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL). He has been a consistent advocate for human rights, social justice, and legal reforms through both his legal work and public engagements.<ref name="alc"/>
Colmenares began his career at the National Amnesty Commission, serving as a private secretary from November 1996 to January 1997, and again from January to September 1997. He then became the commission's legal officer from October 1997 to May 1998, and then became its attorney from January to September 1998 and again from May to September 1999. In September 1999, he became the General Counsel for the partylist Bayan Muna, a position he held until 2009. From March 2004 to March 2006, Colmenares also served as a consultant to the office of Representative Satur Ocampo.
==Awards== In 2020, Colmenares was given the International Bar Association (IBA) Award for his "Outstanding Contribution to Human Rights".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Philippines: human rights lawyer Neri Javier Colmenares wins the 2020 IBA Human Rights Award|url=https://www.ibanet.org/article/338044D9-EDF8-4414-903A-8984D89DF1EF|access-date=November 22, 2023|website=IBA|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bagong Alyansang Makabayan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colmenares, Neri}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers Category:21st-century Filipino lawyers Category:Academic staff of the University of Melbourne Category:Anti-revisionists Category:Filipino anti-corruption activists Category:Filipino politicians of Spanish descent Category:Filipino Roman Catholics Category:Makabayan politicians Category:Marcos martial law victims Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines for Bayan Muna Category:Opposition to Rodrigo Duterte Category:People from Bacolod Category:Politicians from Negros Occidental Category:San Beda University alumni Category:University of the Philippines Diliman alumni