TERROR AND DESPAIR: The Plight and Horror of Trans Community in the Philippines
Written by Angel Esquivel | Layout by JD Olitan
Records have shown that the Philippines ranked 10th most gay-friendly country in the world as part of The Global Divide on Homosexuality study from Pew Research in 2013. But while the country is thought to be an LGBTQIA+ friendly country, the Philippines is an actual exception when asserting rights for gender equality and sexuality diversity for the trans community remains under the grasp of horrors and shadows of violence.
Over the years, transphobic violence continuously transpired over the country. Members of the community still cry for justice and equity in this society filled with discrimination, harassment, violence, and death. However, how should we feel protected when we are dominated by someone who’s having fun with inflammatory remarks on women and gay people, who is joking about rape and sexual assault and openly mused about curing himself of being gay? Throughout the expanse of his term, Mr. Duterte never hesitated to use the naked force behind the tyrannical presidential power. While the community continuously persists in completely freeing the LGBTQIA+ from this bondage of inequality, it seems like he consistently loves playing his fair share of misogynistic and sexist remarks neglecting the voices of the crying community.
This month is not only a celebration of PRIDE, but also a commemoration and remembering the issues of discrimination, prejudice, and violence that vastly harmed the transgender community. Because the fight for gender rights has not been exclusive to cisgenders, but also standing and fighting together with our trans sisters and brothers. Thus, invest time on the dark and horrific stories behind the dreadful and gruesome crimes of the trans community that had progressively grown. As their stories differ from one another, the demand to end all forms of violence, intensely fueled by prejudice against trans people, remains the common denominator.
Madonna ‘Donna’ Niera. Madonna or “Donna” was a 23-year-old transgender woman from Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. She was known to be the mother figure of her friends and was admired for always taking care of them in times of need. On September 28th, when children were playing along the riverbank in the city, they ran across piles of stones and discarded rubbish wherein Donna’s lifeless body was floating in the muddy shallows. The police came in the afternoon and retrieved the body on dry land then marked it as evidence. Unfortunately, her family is still clueless as to who could have done this to her.
Jennifer Laude. It was a cold murder during the darkest night of October 11, 2014. The lifeless body of Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transgender woman, was found lying naked on a bathroom floor with her head inside the toilet bowl in a motel in Olongapo City.
Ever since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pardoned the US marine convicted of killing a transgender woman, it has sparked criticisms from several human rights groups. Since then, protesters and human rights advocates have created a movement for an abrogation of the VFA network following the murder of a Filipina trans woman. The VFA is in charge of the custody of Pemberton who was instead claimed by the United States causing shockwaves throughout the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community, and this served as the face of a pervading culture of violence that kills LGBTQIA+ people every day.
It is this vile act that seals and characterizes the Duterte regime. It is this act that mirrors his desperation to bend over and please China and the United States whilst asserting our sovereignty against foreign powers. The Jennifer Laude slay case is known to have led the long-justice seeking journey, not just for Jennifer, but also for those whose lives were taken due to transphobic violence and hate crime.
Ebeng Tria Mayor. On May 20, LGBTQIA+ rights group Bahaghari, reported the brutal death of Ebeng Mayor, a trans man from Batasan Hills, Quezon City after he was found ‘bloodied and bruised’. Tria’s body was discovered three days after he went missing — showing pieces of evidence of rape and genital mutilation.
There are three suspects behind the brutal killing of Ebeng Mayor, one of whom is a close friend, who has been arrested and formally charged. The suspects hit Tria on the head with a stone, knocking Ebeng Mayor unconscious, and later on, took turns raping him. They robbed his cell phone, wristwatch, and gold necklace before dumping the body in Bagong Silangan. The suspects were charged with sexual assault with homicide and robbery.
Junjie ‘Jhie’ Bangkiao. On May 20, the lifeless body of transwoman, Junjie Bangkiao, was found. Junjie was one of the members of the trans community who suffered a horrific death. She was hammered to death and her naked body was found in the middle of a cemetery in Alangalang, Leyte. However, the authorities are still clueless as to who are the people behind this crime.
Christian ‘Heart’ Pontanes. Heart Pontanes was a 30-year old beautician from Malabon City who also suffered from a brutal death. She died due to multiple stab wounds caused by two men shortly after they took a selfie with her. Unfortunately, she died while being treated for her injuries.
Mhelody Bruno. Mhelody Bruno grew up in the Philippines in a small home on the outskirts of Manila. She was a 25-year-old transgender woman from the Philippines who had come to Australia around six weeks earlier seeking love. However, things turned around when a journey to find love went wrong when the man she had been dating killed her in an act of sexual strangulation.
Cindy Jones Torres. Cindy Jones Torres was a 39-year-old salon owner who was known for being a cheerful person and a LGBTQIA+ activist who died after being stabbed in Guiguinto, Bulacan. The case of Cindy Jones mirrored similar instances of reprehensible and senseless acts of violence against the trans community. It stresses the harsh realities faced by the LGBTQIA+ Community, who are more vulnerable to hate-motivated violence in this macho-feudal system.
Reports have found that Cindy was attacked inside her salon by a man who was believed to be borrowing money from her. However, the suspect claimed to experienced ‘trans panic’ and he used it as a defense to justify the murder. Trans panic is known to be a deeply damaging legal defense that shifts the blame to trans victims just for their existence.
Jessa Remiendo. Residents of Bolinao, Pangasinan where Jessa resides described her as a kind-hearted and family-oriented person. The murder of Jessa Remiendo was another case of hate crime, which was taken as odd by the people because the trans community was said to be “widely accepted” in Pangasinan as trans couples can walk publicly and safely in their area.
Remiendo was drinking with her colleagues and sister on the night at Valdevia Resort where she worked. However, when she left to buy cigarettes, she never returned until the morning of September 17th where a stripped and bloodied body was found on the shore of Patar Beach. Later, the identity of the body who had stabbed wounds on the neck and right eye was Jessa Remiendo.
It has been dismal to think that the pride community’s rights have not been recognized as much as everyone else’s. The members have been suffering way too long from these hate crimes or simply for being part of the community. #TransRights is not a PRIVILEGE. #TransRights are not ‘special rights’ or a luxury. These rights are worthy of merit because nobody should be frightened for being their authentic self. These are basic human rights. Our voices are the manifestation of our collective actions to demand protection and equal rights in this world where crimes and bigotry are prevalent.
We should remember the names of those whose lives were taken in a brutally and excruciatingly manner through the acts of anti-transgender violence as we shout for an end to this macho-feudalistic system. Let us not wait until another trans person is murdered before the state begins to view the trans community as human beings with rights worthy of recognition. Take a step towards creating safe spaces and amplifying the visibility of the voices of people in the transgender community. Put a definite end to this toxic patriarchy filled with misogynistic remarks and homophobic slurs in a society filled with tyranny. For this should not only be a month of celebration, but also a time to demand accountability from those who are still turning a blind eye until now.