Press Release
May 20, 2022

De Lima deplores brutal killing of a member of LGBTQIA+

Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima deplored the brutal murder of a member of the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and other sexual identities) community from the Integrated Laboratory School of Mindanao State University Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO) last May 17.

De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, said the killing warrants serious and thorough investigation to shed light on the ruthless incident and ensure that justice will be served.

"Mariin nating kinokondena ang karumal-dumal na pagpatay sa isang miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community na si Khay Abdulgajir. Kailangan ng patas at agarang imbestigasyon dito para panagutin ang may sala. Wala dapat puwang sa lipunan ang ganitong brutal at kahindik-hindik na karahasan," she said.

"It's appalling how some people have no qualms to kill, as if life is so cheap that they can simply take it away whenever they like. No family deserves to suffer the pain of losing their loved ones to violence," she said.

A senior high student of Integrated Laboratory School MSU-TCTO, identified as Khaleed "Khay" Abdulgajir, was reporterly murdered at Midvalley, Nalil, Bongao.

According to police report, Abdulgajir was stabbed five times in her body and sustained one deep wound on the neck.

Salm Kairo Dumanlag, Executive Director of Mindanao Pride, condemned the killing, saying, "May chilling effect po kasi ang ganitong krimen [dahil] ito ay nangyari ng kasagsagan ng selebrasyon towards fight against discrimination, towards trans, bisexual and LGBTIQ community."

Amid the unabated killings in the country, De Lima reiterated the urgency for the Filipinos to collectively express their outrage and tirelessly demand for accountability for all the victims of killings and violence.

"Isa lamang si Khay sa libu-libong brutal na pinatay sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang rehimen na ginawang kultura ang pamamaslang at kawalan ng pananagutan. Hindi sila estadistika lamang na basta na lamang inuulat, inililista at madadagdagan lang nang madadagdagan, o mas masaklap, ay malilimutan na lang. Kailangan lumabas ang katotohanan at makamit nila at ng kanilang pamilya ang Hustisya," De Lima said.

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