Two men indicted for murder of transgender

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has not recommended any bail against two men for helping with three others in allegedly mauling a transgender that eventually led to the latter’s death five months ago.

The suspects reportedly attacked Noel “Sarah” Radaza, a resident of Quiot, Cebu City, last March 13, 2018 at 4:30 a.m. He died on March 20 due to the injuries he sustained.

Prosecutor II Genevieve Tabada-Lawas held John Brix Espinoza, 18, a resident of Punta Princesa, Cebu City, and Jessie Aguila, 22, of Quiot, Cebu City, for trial after finding probable cause against them for murder.

“They consciously took advantage of their number when they all converged to simultaneously throw blows at the victim. The attack was clearly deliberate and was done to afford the hapless, unarmed, and unsuspecting victim no chance to resist or overpower it,” read the resolution.

Aside from Espinoza and Aguila, two others, Jomar Redemio and Clifford Jimenez, were already charged before the court, while a certain Paulo remained at large.

Janet Radaza, a sister of the victim, said that she learned on March 13 that her brother was brought to the hospital after he was mauled and suffered fatal head injuries.

Eyewitness Christian Bryle Neri said that while they were drinking with the accused at Sitio Bogo, Barangay Quiot, a group of transgender passed by and Paulo offered one of them a drink.

Because of that, other transgender, including the victim, approached them but Jimenez told them to leave because they reportedly just brought annoyance to the group.

The victim reportedly said “kamo pay nanghagad, kami pa inyong papahawaon.” The victim requested his friends to leave.

However, when the group of transgender were about to leave, Jimenez allegedly took a bottle and smashed it to the ground.

Neri said the victim threw a bottle to Jimenez and punched him.

A commotion ensued.

The victim ran towards a steep portion but Aguila ran after the latter. The victim allegedly pushed Aguila causing him to fall, Neri said.

Because of that, the five accused helped each other in mauling the victim.

Lawas has directed the accused to submit their respective answers to the allegations filed against them but failed.

This prompted her to have the case submitted for resolution and found probable cause for the filing of case before the court.

“There is apparently a notorious inequality of forces between the victim and the assailants that is plainly and obviously advantageous to the aggressors and purposely selected or taken advantage of to facilitate the commission of the crime,” read the resolution. — GAN (FREEMAN)