The brazen killing of 38-year old Rudy Steward Dugmam Sayen, also known as “Estee Saway,” a transgender teacher from Bangued, Abra, is under investigation by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

According to police report, on 28 September 2022, Sayen was driving her motorcycle on the way to work at Suyo National High School when riding-in-tandem men tailed her. The suspects shot her multiple times in front of a car wash along Abra-Ilocos Sur Road in Barangay Lipcan. The crime motive is allegedly due to land dispute and personal grudges.

CHR strongly decries this latest incidence that tramples on the utmost right to life. As the country’s Gender Ombud, we equally draw attention to this crime being committed against a member of the lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community, which similarly demonstrates this sector’s vulnerability to persistent hate and prevalent violence.

The Commission welcomes the swift action of the Abra police that enabled the immediate arrest and filing of charges against 5 suspects. In line with the State duty to protect the right to life, we expect truth and swift justice on this case and all similar cases of killings, especially those directed against vulnerable sectors. It is crucial that we consistently demonstrate that we are a nation of laws with high regard for human life by ensuring accountability on all cases to deter further violence and curb impunity.

#StopTheKillings