Two progressive human rights lawyers will again try their luck running for the senator position for the next 2022 election.
On October 7, senators National Union of People’s Lawyers chairperson Neri Colmenares and Free Legal Assistance Group chairperson Chel Diokno filed their certificates of candidacy with the Comelec.
It will be recalled that Neri Colmenares, who is also the chair of the militant Bayan Muna party-list, and Diokno also tried to run for the senate in 2019 but failed to secure a seat.
“Kailangan masawatan natin ang patuloy na pagragasa ng COVID at ipaglaban sa Senado ang ayuda, trabaho, edukasyon at katarungan,” said Neri Colmanares in his speech.
“Ang ayaw gawin ni Duterte sa kabila ng kaliwa’t-kanang pangungutang, isasabatas natin: mula libreng COVID testing, hanggang sa pagpagamot ng iba’t ibang sakit na hindi mag-alala sa gagastusin.”
“Bilang isang abogado, isusulong ko rin sa Senado ang pagbigay ng hustisya sa lahat ng biktima ng human rights violations sa ilalim ni President Duterte at pagtugis sa mga mangungurakot, at korap sa gitna ng pandemya,” Colmenares added.
“My Senate run is an expression of hope and struggle as part of the people’s movement for social reform.”
Diokno now intends to push for more reforms within the judiciary.
Neri Colmenares, Chel Diokno to run for senator
He said that if he is allowed to serve as a senator, he will work to “make it easier to get justice and strengthen alternatives to litigation in court,” he said earlier.
He was recently sworn in by the Katipunan ng Nagkaisang Pilipino party. He is also the son of former senator and human rights advocate Jose “Ka Pepe” Diokno, who is known to have fought against the dictatorship of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
He also jokingly answered those who bully him, especially those who laughed at his teeth: “Maliit na bagay ang ngipin. Hindi ba dapat pag-isipan ang bungi at bulok na sistema?” the candidate said.
Although from another party, the Liberal Party first named Diokno as their guest senatorial candidate due to similarities in principles.
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