HandiCOPs to an

LEONARD TUCJAYAO

On what could have been a festive and colorful culmination of the month-long celebration of the Pride Month 2023, a controversial and transphobic event transpired as Awra Briguela, a Philippine renowned actress, comedian, and trans woman was vehemently manhandled by the Makati Philippine National Police (PNP) and bouncers and was put behind bars after being violently after figuring in a brawl at a bar in Poblacion Makati. For those who could have been keepers of peace and implementers of laws have become perpetrators of discrimination and brutality on one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, Philippines is still far from becoming a truly inclusive country.

According to the Southern Police District (SPD), an argument broke out between Briguela and the group of the complainant, Mark Christian Ravana, after she and her friends allegedly demanded the latter to take off his shirt, with her tearing his shirt after he declined. Ravana and a bouncer then called the Poblacion Police Substation. When the police arrived, Briguela resisted arrest, and allegedly used profane language on the officers. However, in the viral video of the arrest, it can be seen that the actress was surrounded by bouncers and police, with an officer seen heavily manhandling her even as she hit the ground. It can be heard that another woman in the crowd was repeatedly screaming, “Anong ginagawa niya?,” as police continued to make a frightening abuse of police authority against a trans woman.

On the other hand, in an interview with Raffy Tulfo, Edward Cutiyog, Makati Police Chief, released a justification which turned out to become an extremely homophobic remark saying that Awra wanted to see the body of Ravana because she was gay. However, Atty. Chel Diokno called out the Makati Police and asked to stop making generalizations against the LGBTQIA+ community, and ensure that an investigation without prejudice is done–regardless of the people involved sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.