A brawl ensued between members of the LGBTQ community during the "Sinulog de Kabankalan" event in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
A video of the incident showed that several persons were gathered at the food stalls. Later, a man went near another man and pulled his hair. He punched the other man and kicked the person's head despite their companions around, trying to interfere.
The video was taken in Rizal Street, Barangay 7, Kabankalan City on the occasion of the Sinulog sa Kabankalan on January 18, 2026.
The one beaten in the video is identified as John Mark Palma, 32 years old. The person who hit him is said to be his friend, a fellow member of the LGBTQ community.
“Siya, pumunta lang sa aming table. Ang mga kaibigan kong bakla, parang nagbibiruan lang naman. Kaya lang, ang biro niya. Below the belt sa aking pagkatao. Sabi niya, mahirap lang raw ako, maliit lang ang aming bahay,” Palma said.
Palma admitted to bashing his friend with a bottle. The person sustained wounds and contusions on certain parts of his body, but said that the worst he has to endure is the throbbing headache.
“Ako talaga ang dehado. Ilang araw akong walang trabaho. Kailangan kong ipa-CT Scan ang ulo ko kasi ito ang sinuntok niya,” Palma added.
According to the police, the response came in later as the incident was not reported immediately to them.
“Ang area na iyan, may pulis naman diyan. Indi namin tino-tolerate na may mishap sa aming opisina pero nag-roving ang pulisya,” said Lt. Nolly Gudaca, deputy chief of Kabankalan City Police Station.
The incident has upset the event organizer.
”Refrain from those actions. Kung pwede, magsaya lang tayo. Wala na tayong magagawa. Warning natin every now and then, nandiyan palagi pero kung nakainom na kasi, lumalabas ang mga grudge nila,” said Rey Cordero, chairman of the Kabankalan Sinulog Foundation, Inc.
Further, Palma said he will coordinate with his friend who hit him.
The said person has not answered yet a message sent by GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas regarding his side to the incident.
