SLAVERY MAY HAVE been a thing of the past — but discrimination remains a serious concern for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) following reports of orchestrated acts embarking on shaming and harassment perpetrated by village officials in a province which forms part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The CHR particularly took a swipe at the reported public shaming, forced separation, and harassment of lesbian and gay couples in Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, calling the act as a “grave violation of human dignity” and entirely without legal basis.
The incident—now referred to as “Operation Supak”—has triggered a full CHR investigation even as it renewed calls for stronger protection of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other identities) individuals in the region.
According to reports gathered from local radio and community groups, village officials in Barangay Layog allegedly conducted coordinated visits to the homes of individuals perceived to be lesbian or gay. Witnesses said that victims—some of whom were adults living with their same-sex partners—were compelled to report to the barangay hall, interrogated, and subjected to public shaming in the guise of the so-called “moral lectures.”
Several couples were forcibly separated and ordered to cease cohabiting.
NO LEGAL BASIS
The CHR stressed that the actions taken by barangay officials have no legal foundation, as no Philippine law prohibits same-sex couples from living together, nor does any statute authorize government officers to conduct moral policing based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
The Commission underscored that the Constitution guarantees equal protection, privacy, and dignity—rights that cannot be superseded by religious morality.
“While freedom of religion is respected, it cannot justify the use of government authority to target individuals because of their perceived sexual orientation,” the CHR emphasized. “Public officials are governed by the rule of law, not personal or religious belief.”
The agency reiterated that under the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313), gender-based harassment—including acts motivated by homophobia or transphobia—is punishable. The Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) likewise prohibits discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation and gender expression.
PATTERN OF ABUSE
CHR noted that the incident is not isolated. In recent years, the agency has documented similar violations in the region—including a public head-shaving incident in 2021 involving LGBTQ individuals—indicating a deeper pattern of moral policing and stigma rooted in tradition, misinterpretation of religious norms, and local power structures.
Community groups such as the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) condemned the Pagalungan incident as “state-enabled discrimination,” claiming that barangay officials, barangay tanods, and members of the religious sector forcibly entered private homes without warrants, removed individuals from their residences, and subjected them to humiliation.
At least two women and several LGBTQIA+ individuals were reportedly taken from their homes, interrogated, and pressured to end their relationships—actions the ASC described as “a clear violation of privacy, liberty, and security of person.”
MAYOR’S INVOLVEMENT
According to local reports, barangay officials acted upon an alleged instruction from the municipal mayor to implement the operation. The CHR is now working and investigating to determine the scope of the mayor’s role and whether directives were issued formally or informally, emphasizing the need for accountability at all levels of governance.
“If proven true, this constitutes abuse of authority,” CHR officials stated, adding that the incident raises serious questions about the enforcement of personal moral views through public power.
JOINT INVESTIGATION
CHR Region XII has begun its investigation in coordination with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC).
The agency urged the BHRC and the BARMM Ministry of the Interior and Local Government to examine the incident thoroughly, determine administrative or criminal liability, and extend immediate protection to individuals affected.
CHR also called on the Presidential Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs to ensure collaboration among national and BARMM agencies, particularly in providing security, psychosocial support, and preventive mechanisms against further violence.
CALL FOR JUSTICE
Human rights advocates urge the public to condemn any form of discrimination masked as “morality enforcement.”
“Equality, justice, and humanity—not prejudice or misuse of authority—must guide our response,” ASC said.
The CHR concluded that the Maguindanao incident demands urgent resolution, as well as long-term reforms to ensure that LGBTQIA+ individuals in BARMM can live without fear of state-sanctioned harassment.