1 Jul 2016

Report highlights Philippine’s police failure to protect LGBT

LGBT in the country face extortion, violence and rape from the police and do not trust law enforcement officers to protect them, according to rights group

A report by New York-based rights group OutRight Action International has revealed Philippines police abuses when dealing with LGBT.

The report suggests an assumption by police that gay and transgender are sex workers and details instances in which transgenders may be searched by male officers and detained in male cells.

The report includes a story of one gay man went to police after being raped was laughed at and asked, "Isn't that what you want?"

"It is really bad because you don't see the police as an institution where you can get protection," said Ging Cristobal, author of the report and prominent Filipina activist working with New York-based rights group OutRight Action International.

 

Cristobal said a lack of guidelines on dealing with LGBT people in the Philippines police's operational handbook means officers are "left to use their personal judgement" when frisking, making arrests and detaining LGBT people.

 

The report calls for the Philippines National Police to review its handbook to include procedures for correct handling of LGBT people, particularly during body searches and detention and to include information relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in officer training.