ILOILO – Gays are gays whether sober or drunk. This was what Mayor Geefre “Calay” Alonsabe of Alimodian had to say against a statement of a police chief who claimed that “gay men become straight when they get drunk,” referring to the unsolved death of 23-year-old flight attendant Christine Dacera.
An openly gay public official, Alonsabe emphasized that alcohol consumption does not change gay men’s sexual preference.
“Ang tanan nga agi may atubangan or may armas but it does not follow nga ma-carried away sila kun nakainom,” Alonsabe told Panay News in an interview Friday.
He even took himself as an example.
“If I will be given a chance nga makaupod sang isa ka babaye sa isa ka kwarto ukon party, magapabilin ako nga agi gihapon. Wala ko ya pagnanasa sa babaye tungod agi ako,” Alonsabe said.
The mayor’s outcry, along with many other individuals and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) groups, came after Makati City police chief Colonel Harold Depositar made the statement in a recent interview regarding Dacera’s case.
“Lalaki pa din sila. May instinct ‘yan and…you know, lalo na if you’re under the influence of intoxicating alcohol, and kung may presence of drugs pa — lalo na,” Depositar alleged, referring to the gay men who were with Dacera before her death.
But Alonsabe refuted Depositar’s claim by using humor to make a point.
“Regardless mag-inum man ako kag magpakighalubilo sa isa ka babaye ukon sa isa ka sex slave nga gwapa, indi gid ako ya magtigbaliw,” Alonsabe said.
The mayor also gave the police chief a piece of advice.
“In terms sa judgment sang aton police official, indi anay mag-generalize nga ang tanan nga agi amo gid na,” Alonsabe added.
Days after her tragic death on New Year’s Day, Dacera’s case remains unsolved as the Makati Prosecutors Office deemed the police’s evidence as “insufficient” to determine that the flight attendant was indeed raped and murdered by her gay friends during a New Year party.
Dacera’s untimely demise, according to Alonsabe, should be an eye-opener for the youngsters or those who are into parties.
He likewise reminded members of the LGBTQ community to be responsible with their actions.
“Para indi madagtaan ang ngalan sang LGBTQ,” the mayor said./PN
