The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has pressed Congress for the passage of the bills on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE) that would protect and prevent acts of discrimination and hate against people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.

The call was aired as the CHR condemned the killing of a transgender student in Tawi-Tawi last May 17.

Citing police reports, the CHR said that Khay Abdulgajir was found dead with five stab wounds, one of them in the neck.

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersexed (LGBTQI) community assailed Khay’s death as a hate crime.

CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the “heinous act” brings to light the dangers faced by members of the LGBTQI community.

De Guia, a lawyer, lamented that Khay’s death coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

She said acts of violence against the LGBTQI community "robs them of their rights to live a life free from violence and discrimination," and this is why the CHR has been earnestly pushing for the enactment of the SOGIE Equality Bill.

With the law, members of the LGBTQI community will be provided with legal mechanisms to hold to account perpetrators of gender-based discrimination, she also said.

At the same time, De Guia said the CHR reiterated the need to strengthen "gender education" and beef up campaigns against hate, stigma, and discrimination.

"We send our condolences to the bereaved family members and her loved ones. CHR for its part will be conducting a motu proprio (on its own initiative) investigation, through its regional office in Region IX, and coordinate efforts with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission in the conduct of its parallel investigation with local authorities in pursuit of justice for the victim and his loved ones," she added.