ILOILO City – The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community in this city and Iloilo province is up in arms against a staunch critic of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. for discriminatory statements made against their sector.
On March 15 LGBT groups will hold a public assembly at Sunburst Park here to denounce former Iloilo provincial administrator Manuel “Boy” Mejorada.
In a recent radio program, Mejorada said gays were susceptible to corruption because they had vices and had to keep their boyfriends happy.
“We condemn the discriminatory pronouncements of Mr. Boy Mejorada. I am inviting LGBT (groups) to unite. Be there. This is our fight. Let’s do it,” said Edgar Suelo, spokesperson of Iloilo Pride Council, one of the more prominent LGBT organizations in the city.
The assembly, dubbed “LGBT Unite Against Discrimination”, starts at 4 p.m.
Mejorada made the controversial pronouncements while discussing the administrative complaint – for alleged unexplained wealth – he filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against an executive assistant of Governor Defensor, Ruel Von Superio.
He said, “…ang iya nga pag ako nga agi sya kag ang corruption…kabalo ka, wala man ta nagapakanubo sa aton kautoran nga gay, pero mas vulnerable ‘ni sila sa corruption. Ti siempre, may mga bisyo ‘ni sila nga ginamintinar. They have to keep their boyfriends happy. Amo ‘ni siguro sa iya sexual preference nagagasto sya para nga ma-maintain ‘ya iya relasyon sa iya nga boyfriend.”
Mejorada already issued a public apology via Facebook but the LGBT community would have none of it. The first Miss LGBT Ambassadress Queen of Iloilo, Erriz Erikh Lanceta, blasted Mejorada.
“Kon may kontra s’ya sa pulitika, nga-a pag-address ‘ya in general? Gina-condemn namon ang iya statement,” said Lanceta yesterday.
According to Suelo, various LGBT groups agreed to hold an assembly against Mejorada.
“Wala kami naga-personal sa iya. Ang iya lang statement ang gusto namon i-correct. This will serve as a lesson to everybody. We, members of the LGBT community, need to be loved and respected and to be treated well,” said Suelo.
Iloilo City councilor Leizl Zulueta-Salazar, a staunch support of the LGBT community in this city, described Mejorada’s statements as “disheartening” and cited Iloilo City’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance (Regulation Ordinance No. 2018-090).
Mejorada’s discriminatory statements, according to Zulueta-Salazar, fell under Section 3, No. 5 of the ordinance (verbal or written words that ridicule or insult or attribute despicable behavior and habits or associating with violence and criminal activities any person or group of persons by reason of gender identity or sexual orientation, race, color of skin, descent, national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation or beliefs).
She would be supporting the LGBT community should it pursue legal moves against Mejorada, said Zulueta-Salazar.
She also appealed to the public: “Respetuhon ta ang aton isigkatawo. Ang mga Ilonggo indi bastos.”
Meanwhile, Superio denied Mejorada’s allegation of corruption.
He said the two vehicles he was driving and which Mejorada cited in his complaint were not his but owned by his sister whose husband is a ship captain.
He also said his own car, a Toyota Vios, he bought in 2011 through a loan.
Superio also denied he frequently travelled abroad and showed his passport as proof. The last time he went abroad was two years ago, in Thailand. He flew to Hong Kong in 2011 and to Singapore in 2013.
He said he availed himself of cheap airline ticket promos.
Superio lamented that Mejorada is making it appear he is corrupt to paint Governor Defensor as corrupt, too./PN
