Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares vowed to continue his fight for the poor, crack down on corruption, and push for economic reforms to ease the burden on ordinary Filipinos, under the Bayan Muna Partylist.
In the Bakit Ikaw: The DZRH Job Interview on Wednesday, Colmenares outlined the main issues why the prices of basic goods are continuously soaring high, proposing a clear economic policy to alleviate the situation by removing the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity, water, and fuel.
“Kapag tinanggal mo ‘yan [VAT] maibsan ‘yan ng at most 12% ng krudo, kuryente at lahat ng factory na gumagamit niyan syempre baba din,” he emphasized.
So isa ‘yan sa pinakamalaking laban na gusto namin ilaban para naman bumaba ang presyo ng bilihin,” he added.
However, despite their eagerness to push the proposal, the administration responded that the government fund will be cut, therefore they don’t want to remove the VAT.
“Ang sagot naman namin sa BayanMuna diyan ay marami pondo ang gobyerno ginagastos niyo lang sa walang kakwenta-kwenta na mga proyekto,” Bayan Muna Partylist response on the alleged government fund cut, Colmenares shared.
Redistributing public funds to citizens
In addition, Colmenares explained that the party’s main objective is for the public services to receive government funding directly, rather than into the pockets of politicians.
“Sa budgeting talaga, may budget sa mga ospital eh tapos nagtataka kami sa Bayan Muna bakit may malalaking pondo pa dito ng medical assistance for persons in circumstances and etc. bakit pa dito i-diretso mo na sa ospital,” Colmenares said.
“Humingi ang state universities and colleges ng pondo, bakit pa dadaan sa mga kung sino-sinong politiko yung scholarship, sino ba nag mas marunong sa criteria ng scholarship si Cong. o CHED,” he added said.
He also affirmed that the duty in Congress and Senate is to make law and cited that they are “congressmen,” not a ‘yes man’.
“Ang trabaho ng kongresista at senador kasi gagawa kami ng batas that’s the first,” he affirmed.
He also denounced the pervasive corruption and misuse of public funds, emphasizing that corrupt officials should be penalized with at least 10 years.
“It's the swiftness and the sureness of justice para masagot ang korapsyon na isang dahilan kung bakit tayo mahirap. Isa lang naman siyang dahilan pero masasagot ‘yan dapat makulong talaga lahat ng kurakot sa gobyerno,” he believed.
Moreover, Colmenares called for a national minimum wage of P1,200 for all Filipino workers, regardless of region.
“Whether Metro Manila, Luzon, o Visayas pantay-pantay at pareho dapat ang sahod, 1,200 living wage at yan ang ilalaban namin kung sakaling manalo ang Bayan Muna sa partylist,” he said.
Seeking accountability amid VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings
On the other hand, Colmenares shared that he is also one of the complainants in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Bilang abogado ng impeachment compliance at isa sa complainant myself dapat naman matuloy ang impeachment for two reasons. Una, the constitution says that trials should proceed forthwith,” he stated.
“Ang second reason, reasonable ang hinihingi ng taumbayan dito kay VP Sara Duterte, saan mo ginamit, ginastos ang 125 million in 11 days. ‘Yun lang sagutin mo ng maayos,” he stressed, referencing existing government circulars requiring documentation and receipts even for such funds.
He further criticized the use of intelligence funds by civilian agencies, saying these are often used for opaque spending without genuine intelligence work.
Calling for justice for the drug war victims
As one of the original filers of the 2018 International Criminal Court (ICC) complaint against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Colmenares defended the ICC’s jurisdiction and process.
“Ngayon ang sinasabi ni President Duterte, walang due process ‘yun, para sa amin kahit sino ka pa man dapat may due process rights ka. Ano wala raw siyang warrant of arrest meron siyang warrant of arrest issued ng ICC,” he said.
“Binasahan pa nga siya ng warrant kung ano ang charges sa kanya. Binasahan siya ng Miranda rights niya, buti nga siya nabasahan. Yung lahat ng biktima na libo-libo ni walang korte, walang warrant, parang hayop na pinatay nagmamakaawa nagtatanong anong kasalanan ko,” the human rights lawyer added.
He further discussed Article 127 of the Rome Statute, which allows the ICC to continue cases initiated before a country’s withdrawal from the court.
“Ang gusto lang naman ng mga kamag-anak ng biktima dito may forum na malabas nila ang kanilang ebidensya ng kanilang hinaing at kanilang kwento kung paano pinatay ang kaanak nila,” Colmenares pointing on war on drug victim’s families on seeking justice.
#BakitIkaw: Reasons to vote for Bayan Muna
In conclusion, he called on voters, particularly the youth, to support genuine party-lists like Bayan Muna rather than ones controlled by political dynasties.
“Ang aming ipinagmamalaki kami ay maraming termino sa Kongreso hindi kami sa nagpayaman talaga diyan. Kung gaano kami pumasok sa Kongreso ganoon din kami lumabas,” he said.
In the 2007 Philippine elections, Bayan Muna emerged as the second most popular party-list.
As the 2025 midterm elections draw near, Bayan Muna hopes to return to Congress and continue its advocacies that support the underrepresented sectors.
