08/01/2024
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ค๐ข๐ด๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ข๐ถ๐ฅ๐ฆ, ๐ข ๐๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฐ ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ธ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ๐ฌ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ฐ๐ต๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฏ, ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ข๐ช๐ฏ๐ด ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ด๐ฆ๐ต๐ต๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต 10 ๐บ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ด ๐ข๐ง๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต.
In the dark corners of society, where prejudice and hatred thrive, there lies a sinister truth that we can no longer ignore. The tragic murder of Jennifer Laude, a Filipina transgender woman, who was killed by US Soldier Joseph Scott Pemberton, not only brought to light the alarming hate crimes and marginalization committed against the LGBTQIA+ community but also exposed the deep-rooted flaws within the justice system.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐บ๐ฒ ๐๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ค๐๐+ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐
Jennifer Laude was not merely a victim and a case easily forgotten. To many, she was a cherished friend, daughter, sister, and a dear member of the LGBTQIA+ community. For simply being who she was, the tragic event of Laude's murder transpired as Pemberton couldn't accept her identity. It is no surprise this ignited a firestorm of public outrage, and rightfully so. Laude's death has deeply affected the hearts of many, intensifying with the news of Pemberton's release. In the eyes of many, Pemberton has committed the very definition of a sickening act โ a hate crime, to be so prejudice-motivated that he took Jennifer's life solely because she didn't conform to the s*xual orientation of what Pemberton had in mind.
With no laws protecting LGBTQIA+ members in their own country, the community is at risk of facing prejudice and harm. With no one protecting people from those who disregard their fellows as human beings, it is not impossible that a case like Jennifer's would be repeated once again. If gender-based violence continues to be ignored, the country's demise will begin unfolding before our eyes.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ
Justice is supposed to be on everyone's side, on Jennifer and the LGBTQIA+ community. It's the very thing that's supposed to protect those needing security, even though security is a basic right. Yet, our very own justice systemโthe one that's supposed to protect usโhas failed. Jennifer's case screams of the Philippine justice system's incompetence. Instead of slapping the label "murder" on Pemberton, they had to go for the soft option โ "homicide." The court found that the offense lacked the legal elements of murder, a much heavier crime. The failure of the justice system to acknowledge the hate crime in Laude's case is glaringly evident. This just makes a person question and wonder: How is Pemberton's crime different, less severe, and, as they say, reasonable than other murders?
To make things worse, former president Rodrigo Duterte granted Pemberton an absolute pardon after serving a mere six years in prison. This paltry punishment stands in stark contrast to the 26 years of life stolen from Laude. With a meager stint behind bars, Pemberton now roams freely as granted from his absolute pardon where civil and political rights were restored โ evading criminal accountability.
The LGBTQIA+ community has been left hanging for decades, wondering up until now if they'll ever get the fair treatment they deserve.
It would be better if justice were blind, for when justice doesn't see race, color, creed, s*x, age, or money, LGBTQIA+ Filipinos could live in a world of fairness and equality they all wish for. But then again, it's not just the system that's to blame; it's the people within it and those who can't accept others for being what and who they want to be.
๐๐ถ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ
The motives behind Duterte's perplexing decision remain shrouded in ambiguity, whether it reflects his personal biases concerning the LGBTQIA+ community or perhaps the granting of the absolute pardon has a stronghold to bolster the relationship between the country and the United States. No matter what justification Duterte may have for his ignorance of the severity of his actions, it only exacerbates the situation. Instead of prioritizing the well-being of his fellow countrymen who have fallen victim to violence and murder, he places greater importance on diplomatic connections and alliance, evading any friction that might jeopardize the Philippine state's relationship with its American counterpart.
One thing's certain: Duterte's grant of pardon to Pemberton speaks to his role as a puppet, manipulated by the strings of his so-called" alliance." This decision is a painful reminder of how political expediency can trump justice, leaving the memory of Jennifer Laude and the pursuit of proper accountability in the shadows.
Rather than hoping for change, it's high time we demand it. Inclusion should be a norm โ a standard in an ever-changing society. Yet, here we are, pleading for it. For far too long, we've been unknowingly fed deception, hearing hollow promises of equality during elections. It's time for those in power to fulfill those commitments and implement real, actual laws. Perpetrators of hate crimes like Pemberton must face the consequences they have been dodging for too long. Laude deserves justice, and Pemberton, a rightful punishment.
Jennifer's passing should serve as a powerful reminder for us all to demand a better future, one in which no individual lives in fear due to their identity. The tragic experience that Laude endured should never have happened to anyone in the first place. However, when our justice system fluctuates and fails to embrace the notion of progress when it is unwilling or unable to meet the demands of the people it serves, it becomes a profound disappointment and a betrayal.
Written by Jessie Bagatela and Idy Recto
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