A transgender woman was slain in Tawi-Tawi after being stabbed multiple times in what LGBTQIA activists believe was a hate crime.
Khay Abdulgajir was found stabbed to death on May 17, according to Jun Veneracion’s report on 24-oras on Thursday. She was stabbed five times, including once in the neck.
“Masakit sir dahil ‘yung ginawa nila sa anak, parang… pinatay nila parang hayop,” Khay’s mother Ruaida Nain Muallip said.
(What they did to my child is hurtful. He was killed like an animal.)
“Pinutol nila yung leeg… ay nilalas nila sir, tapos ‘yung marami pang sugat. Ang bata ng anak ko sir, walang kalaban-laban,” she added.
(They cut his neck… they stabbed him. My child is so young. He was helpless.)
The transgender woman was fetched by a friend on Monday night for their side hustle as event organizers, according to police.
On Tuesday morning, Khay was discovered dead. Her phone had been missing.
“Isa po sa anggulo natin is ‘yung, dahil po sa selos. At isa naman po ay dahil sa kanilang hanapbuhay,” Police Captain Kuhutan Imlani Jr., Officer-in-charge, of Bongao Police Station.
(One of our angles is because of jealousy. And another is because of their occupation.)
Transgender woman stabbed to death in Tawi-Tawi
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) announced it would conduct a motu proprio investigation and coordinate efforts with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission through its office in Region IX (BHRC).
“Tinitignan po namin dito, ini-examin po naming, pinag-aaralan po naming ‘yung kaso, kung saan po ang aming opisina ay pwedeng mag-provide ng any form of assistance,” Mohammad Ghamidi Amilhassan, Investigator on case of Bangsamoro-HRC, said.
(We are looking at it, examining it, and studying the case where our office can provide any form of assistance.)
Members of the LGBTQ community called the incident a “hate crime” as they condemned the brutal killing.
“May chilling effect po kasi ang ganitong krimen pong ito ay nangyari sa kasagsagan ng selebrasyon towards fight discrimination, towards trans, bisexual and LGBTQ community,” said Salm Kairo Dumanlag, executive director of Mindanao Pride.
The police, on the other hand, have indicated that a hate crime was not the motive for the killing of the transgender woman victim.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.