Transgender woman found stabbed to death in Tawi-tawi

A transgender woman in Tawi-tawi was killed after getting stabbed several times in what members of the LGBTQIA community fear to be a hate crime.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on 24-oras on Thursday, Khay Abdulgajir was found stabbed to death on May 17. She suffered five stab wounds, including one in the neck.

"Masakit sir dahil ‘yung ginawa nila sa anak, parang… pinatay nila parang hayop," Khay's mother Ruaida Nain Muallip said.

"Pinutol nila yung leeg… ay nilalas nila sir, tapos ‘yung marami pang sugat. Ang bata ng anak ko sir, walang kalaban-laban," she added.

Police investigation showed Khay was fetched by a friend on Monday night for their side hustle as event organizes.

Khay was found dead before dawn on Tuesday. Her cell phone was 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.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it would conduct a motu propio investigation, through its office in Region IX, and coordinate efforts with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (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.

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.

However, the police had said they are ruling out the possibility of hate crime as the motive for the killing.

"Ang malaking posibilidad po kasi na miyembro din po nila ‘yung ano, pero under investigation pa po sir," he said. "Isa po yun sa anggulo namin sir." -Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News