News of Homophobia and Transphobia in Cebu

A News about Murder:

Body of gay man found buried in Cebu

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 10/15/2011 5:20 PM | Updated as of 10/15/2011 11:31 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The remains of a 50-year-old man was found in Minglanilla, Cebu on Friday.

The decomposing body of Alberto Navarro, who was allegedly homosexual, was found buried underneath an abandoned house in Barangay Linao.

Allegedly, the victim was killed last May 16 by a tricycle driver named Richard Mandal.

After months of running loose, Mandal was arrested on Friday.

Mandal admitted to the crime, saying he hit Navarro with a piece of wood after the latter forcefully asked him to have sex with him.

“Gusto kasi niya makipag-sex, pero ayaw ko. Sinabi kong hindi ko gusto, pero nagpupumilit. Hinampas ko ng dos por dos ang likod niya,” Mandal said.

Police authorities are now preparing to file homicide charges against Mandal.– Reports from Edgar Escalante and Rachelle Dangin, ABS-CBN Central Visayas

News about Pellet Gun Attacks:

Click here for the personal account on the pellet gun attacks.

Click here for the COLORS official press statement on the pellet gun attacks.

Police probe ‘attack’ on gays

By Carine M. Asutilla

Cebu Daily News

7:09 am | Friday, October 14th, 2011

CEBU City police are investigating a series of drive-by shootings that target homosexuals on the street.

At least three incidents were reported since Saturday night involving a group of unidentified car-riding men who used air guns that fire pellets instead of slugs.

A certain Jeffrey said he was talking to another homosexual outside a subdivision in barangay Tisa, Cebu City, last Saturday night when a white car with no plate number stopped in front of them.

The car window opened slightly before they were shot with an airsoft gun.

Jeffrey said he and his companion sustained wounds in the back. The two ran to the Punta Princesa police station to report the assault.

Earlier that night, the same incident was reported at the Fuente police station.

Ramil Hitoro said he and his friends were walking along Mango Avenue when they were also shot in the legs.

In a Facebook group page of transgenders, several gays have shared the same experience through the blog page of the Philippine Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders (LGBT) Crime Watch.

One victim said he was having supper with friends when he was shot several times with a pellet gun.

He said the series of attacks could be a form of “hate crimes” against gays.

“Ako ra gyung mensahe nila no, kung naay bayot nga nakapasakit ninyo, ayaw mi ninyo apila. Atubanga ang inyong gikaaway. Wa man mi gibuhat ninyo, ” he said.

Senior Insp. Isagani Pugoy, chief of the Fuente police, said they are stil investigating the case.

Police aprehended some persons driving a car with no plate number but they were not identified by the victims.

Pellet gun attacks target gays in Cebu

abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 10/13/2011 4:52 PM | Updated as of 10/13/2011 4:57 PM

Legs of victim Ramil Hitoro

MANILA, Philippines – A gay rights group has cried foul over a series of pellet gun attacks on gay men in Cebu City.

Ramil Hitoro, one of the victims, went to Fuente Osmeña Police Station on Thursday after men onboard a white car that had no license plate shot him with a pellet gun.

An hour later, a group of gay men went to the Punta Princesa Police Station to report a similar incident.

Lemon Anne, one of the victims, said he was with some friends outside their subdivision when some men onboard a car stopped in front of them and shot them.

The victims said several similar incidents, which were unreported, also happened in their area.

Ceejay Bayani, a representative of LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders) Hate Crime Watch, said the attacks are clear examples of discrimination.

“That is a clear example of homophobia and discrimination against gay men. Hindi maganda iyon, masakit din yun kahit pellet gun,” he said.

“Anong gusto nilang gamitin sa susunod? Yung may totoong bala?”

Bayani said the group strongly condemns the act. He added even if the attacks continue, the perpetrators cannot change the fact that gays exist.

“We condemn yung mga ginagawa ng mga lalaking iyon. Hindi naman natatangaal ang kabaklaan namin kapag ginaganon kami at wina-walanghiya,” he stressed.

“Hindi niyo kami mabubura at hindi niyo kami matatakot para maging totoo kami sa sarili namin. At lalaban kami para sa karapatan namin.” – with a report from Carine Asutilla, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas