THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday sounded the alarm on what it called a “disturbing pattern of transfemicide” following the killing of two transgender women this month.
The CHR cited the cases of Ali Macalintal, a former broadcaster gunned down at her workplace in General Santos City, and Gian Molina who was found lifeless in a river in Cagayan.
The CHR said it has tasked its regional offices with investigating the cases and that it is urging law enforcement agencies “to conduct swift and impartial investigations” into the murders.
International rights group Human Rights Watch also said authorities must look deeper into the case of Macalintal, a known activist, to determine if her death was related to her “political activism or her gender identity.”
Macalintal’s murder is a brutal reminder that engaging in any kind of activism in the Philippines carries grave risks,” said Carlos Conde, senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The CHR also mentioned the killings of two other transgender women earlier this year: Ren Tampus, a 35-year-old beauty salon owner gunned down in January, and Shalani, who was found dead and dismembered in February in Caloocan City.
“These killings, marked by cruelty and impunity, reflect a disturbing pattern of transfemicide—the gender-based killing of transgender women—driven by misogyny, transphobia, and the systemic belief that their lives are disposable. It is imperative that our society name this violence for what it is,” the CHR said.
The CHR reiterated its call for the upcoming 20th Congress to finally pass the Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality bill and the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination bill.
“These acts further highlight the need for the Philippine government to directly address gender discrimination issues, while ensuring accessible redress mechanisms for victims and their families,” it said.
Iterations of the SOGIE and anti-discrimination bills have been languishing in Congress for decades, mainly due to the resistance of conservative legislators and religious groups, the CHR lamented.
