Inclusive Society

Diokno noted that both assault and sexual harassment are serious matters and it is everyone’s privilege to have a right to a safe and respectful environment regardless of their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE), which clearly is lacking on the police officers involved.

Clearly, the vehement arrest of Awra is an extensive manifestation of transphobia and police brutality. When people in power utilize their authority to steer fear to the people, let alone violently arrest an unarmed trans woman of no strength, it reflects poorly on the capabilities of the PNP. As Sen. Risa Hontiveros calls this a case of the narrowsightedness and injustice of transphobia and misogyny.

Moreover, groups like Metro Manila Pride have expressed their condemnation of the incident. Metro Manila Pride cited that the case of Awra is the primary reason why there is an urgent need to swiftly pass the SOGIE Equality Bill into law, and mandate the local governments to respond to the struggles of their constituents. Safe spaces still remain to be an urgent necessity in the status quo because of the lack of established policies and the abuse of power of people in authority.

The country ended the Pride month with a painful remembrance of how our people in power utilize their authority and instigate abuse against the members of the LGBTQIA+. This is a reminder of why we need to emancipate people regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression beyond the bars of the abuse of power of the people in authority. But until there is a handicap between how police officers should treat their constituents over how they have treated them regardless of their SOGIE, the call for the reconstruction of the police force and the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill continues.