Trans Femicide in the Philippines: CHR Raises Alarm Over Pattern of Violence
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has sounded the alarm on a “disturbing pattern of transfemicide” in the Philippines, following a spate of brutal killings targeting transgender women across the country. In an official statement released today, the CHR condemned the recent deaths of Ali Macalintal and Gian Molina, two prominent trans women whose tragic fates spotlight the escalating danger faced by the Filipino transgender community.
CHR Official Statement
Latest killings spark national outcry
On June 23, 2025, Ali Macalintal, a fierce human rights advocate and former broadcaster, was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in General Santos City. That same day, the body of Gian Molina, a proud and outspoken transgender woman, was found in the river at Iguig, Cagayan. Both cases remain under investigation, with advocates demanding swift and impartial probes amidst growing fears of a climate of impunity.
Manila Standard: CHR Airs Alarm
Transfemicide: A persistent pattern of violence
The CHR highlighted that these are not isolated incidents. In early 2025, two other trans women, Ren Tampus and Shalani, also met violent ends, Tampus was shot in her own beauty salon in General Santos, and Shalani was found dismembered in Caloocan City. According to the CHR, “these killings, marked by cruelty and impunity, reflect a disturbing pattern of transfemicide, the gender-based killing of transgender women, driven by misogyny, transphobia, and the systemic belief that their lives are disposable.”
Manila Bulletin: CHR Condemns Killings
Barriers to justice and calls for reform
Human rights groups stress that the absence of full legal protections leaves Filipino trans people especially vulnerable. The much-debated Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality Bill, and other anti-discrimination measures, have languished in Congress for years, hindered by conservative opposition. The CHR emphasized the urgent need for these laws, alongside better police protocols to respect the identities of victims in all official records, to break the cycle of violence and erasure.
CHR Press Release: Pattern of Transfemicide
Community response: Grief, anger, and resolve
The shockwaves in the trans community have been profound, with advocates pointing out that the recent murders come during Pride Month, a supposed time of celebration and solidarity. The CHR called on the government and the public to “confront structural violence and reclaim the right to exist in dignity.” As investigations continue, the demand grows louder: No more names added to the list. Justice for Ali, Gian, Ren, Shalani, and all the trans lives lost to hatred and neglect.
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