Woman charged for assaulting transwoman fails to show up in barangay probe

Alexis Hart Garcia at the barangay hall in Mayamot, Antipolo. Screengrab from the FB video of Barangay Kagawad Kristine Ibardaloza.

MANILA, Philippines — Transgender woman Alexis Hart Garcia on Wednesday said she needed to have closure with “Aling Susan,” the woman who assaulted and threatened her.

Aling Susan was a no show at a hearing in Barangay Mayamot in Antipolo, Rizal, regarding the discrimination complaint of Garcia.

During the hearing set at 10 a.m., only Aling Susan’s family responded to Garcia’s complaint.

“Hindi tuloy matapos iyong usapin lalo na at wala si Aling Susan. Wala akong problema sa pamilya niya [Aling Susan], walang nagawang masama sa akin iyong pamilya niya. Ganoon din naman ako sa kanila. Kaya siguro maiintindihan din nila iyong side ko dahil walang closure,” Garcia said in a video interview posted on Barangay Kagawad Kristine Ibardaloza’s Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/kristineT.ibardolaza/videos/10157783115866732/

(There will be no closure because only Aling Susan’s family has shown up. I have no issue with them. They did not do anything wrong to me, and I to them. I hope they understand me because there was no closure.)

According to Barangay Mayamot officials, Garcia sued Aling Susan for assault, which went viral on social media. Garcia added that Aling Susan has been publicly shaming her and even resorted to threatening her.

“Ayon sa complainant [Garcia], matagal na ginawa sa kanya ang panghihiya ng respondent [Susan]. Hindi niya na matiis ang ginagawa ng respondent kaya nagdesisyon na siyang ireklamo ito lalo nang sinabi siya na babaralin siya,” read the excerpt from Barangay Mayamot official report on the hearing.

(According to the complainant, Aling Susan has been humiliating her for the longest time. Garcia could not take it anymore, so she decided to file cases, especially when Aling Susan threatened to shoot her.)

Due to Aling Susan’s absence, the hearing on Garcia’s complaint was rescheduled to Nov. 18 at the office of Barangay Mayamot.

Mental illness

At the hearing, Aling Susan’s children and siblings disclosed that she has a mental health condition.

“Ayon sa mga anak at kapatid ng respondent [Aling Susan], may mental condition ito na extreme bipolar condition,” read the excerpt from the official report.

(According to Aling Susan’s children and siblings, she has a mental [health] condition with extreme bipolar disorder.)

Meanwhile, Garcia asked that the family show a medical document to prove that Aling Susan is mentally ill.

“Ang hinihiling ko naman sana kung may sakit si Aling Susan, sana mai-provide nila iyong documents o certificate na talagang may sakit siya at may magsalitang doctor in behalf of Aling Susan at kasama si Aling Susan.” she further said.

(I am asking that if Aling Susan has a mental illness, I hope they provide evidence such as a medical certificate. A doctor should speak on her behalf.)

But the family was not able to submit a medical certificate stating that the doctor is “private.”

Garcia said she hoped that Aling Susan’s family would understand her. She can stand to be humiliated, but she cannot compromise her safety.

She stressed that she filed the complaint for her safety.

“Gusto ko ang seguridad at protection ko. Iyong pangungutya kaya ko palampasin pero iyong pagbabato at pagbabanta, ibang usapin na,” Garcia said.

(I just want to make sure that I am secured and protected. I can  handle all those hurtful words but the assault and threat, that’s a different story.)

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JPV