MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 5, 2012) – Gay groups in the Philippines condemned the brutal and “homophobia-fueled” attack by a father on his gay teener in northern Philippines.
The Philippine LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Hate Crime Watch (PLHCW) is now demanding justice for 19-year old Edmund Padilla who suffered burns and blisters after his drunken father Erano scalded him with boiling water. It also also demanded Congress to hold the hearings that would investigate motive-driven crimes based on the perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of the victims to prevent future repeats of the barbaric crime, according to Reighben Labilles, spokesperson of the PLHCW.
The elder Padilla told police that he committed the crime because of his pent-up feelings against three of his children turning out to be gay. He is now detained and charged with physical injuries on the instigation of the victim.
In 2010, the Gabriela Women’s Partylist passed a House resolution calling for a formal inquiry on the origins and effects of hate crimes committed against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender on the prodding of the hate crime watchers group. Congress has yet to act on the resolution.
“We plead to the government to initiate pro-active programs that provides parents and LGBT children the opportunities to promote freedom of expression of sexuality and gender. In a free society, the parents should respect the rights of their LGBT and stop altogether corporal punishment. We are born this way and you cannot punish us to change our sexuality,” Labilles said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.
“Since Edmund Padilla is already 19 years old, he may no longer be covered by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and our national child protection laws, yet we fear that so many violent acts perpetrated by parents and legal guardians against their LGBT children go unreported. It is so urgent for Congress to find ways to protect sons and daughters of whatever age from family-based violence and the Convention is a good place to start,” Labilles added.
Article 19 of the Convention declares: States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parents, legal guardians or any other person who has the care of the child.
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