The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has decided to conduct its own probe into the killing of transgender Cindy Jones Torres inside her own salon in Guiguinto, Bulacan last Aug. 3.
Torres, 39, was reportedly stabbed several times by a man who was allegedly borrowing money. The suspect has been arrested by the police.
"The case of Cindy Jones, as well as other similar instances of reprehensible and senseless acts of violence, stresses the harsh realities faced by the LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersexed) community who are more vulnerable to hate-motivated violence even in present-day society," CHR said through Spokesperson and lawyer Jacqueline Ann de Guia.
The CHR denounced the killing of Torres as well as all forms of gender-based violence directed towards transgender individuals and other people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), De Guia said.
"We strongly echo CHR's call for better protection of the LGBTQI community through the enactment of the SOGIE Equality Bill, which is envisioned to provide legal mechanisms to hold to account perpetrators of gender-based discrimination and violence," she said.
She said the CHR expressed its hope that the police will do its best to ascertain the truth so that justice may be attained, and the perpetrator will be held to account.
"We send our condolences to the family and loved ones of Cindy Jones. We look forward to the swift action of authorities towards the resolution of this case," she added.