Gay group seeks probe on attacks
A group of homosexuals sought the intervention of a Capitol official in relation to a recent series of drive-by gun pellet attacks on gays in Cebu City.
Bisdak Pride Inc. founder and president Roxanne Omega-Doron and member Alvin Truya visited the office of Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy yesterday on to hand over copies of police blotter reporters of the incidents.
“There’s still prejudice against gays despite them saying that we are already accepted,” Truya said.
Doron said they sought Sitoy’s help since he filed a proposed anti-discrimination ordinance last March.
The ordinance prohibits employers from hiring hiring, promoting or dismissing workers based on sexual orientation or gender.
Sitoy said the ordinance is timely and necessary to give protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos (LGBT).
At least three incidents in Cebu City were reported since Oct. 8 involving a group of unidentified car-riding men shooting homosexuals on the street with pellet guns.
A certain Jeffrey said he was talking with another homosexual outside a subdivision in barangay Tisa, Cebu City when a white car with no plate number stopped in front of them. A passenger fired an airsoft gun hitting them in the back.
They ran to the Punta Princesa police station to report the assault. Earlier that night, the same incident was reported at the Fuente police station.
Ramil Hitoro said he and his friends were walking along Mango Avenue when they were also shot in the legs.
“We are doing this to let the public know that we are watching. The Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders (LGBT) group is not letting these things pass,” Truya said. “They may use a real gun in the future.”
The group also asked for an investigation in the killing of a 54-year-old Albert Navarro last May. Navarro was allegedly killed by his lover, 34-year-old Richard Mandal. Last week, Navarro’s remains were found in an abandoned building in Lipata, Minglanilla. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus
