Tutor condems killing of LGBTQIA+ member

 By Leo Udtohan

This past Pride Month witnessed a slew of violent anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) hate crimes. 

For some LGBTQIA+ members, daily experiences of bias are not unusual. Many people who experience hate crimes do not report the incidents to law enforcement, for various reasons.

The recent hate crime has become a cause célèbre in Bohol province. 

Rep. Alexie Besas-Tutor of Bohol’s third district

 condemned the killing of John Engelbert Liao. 

Photo: Rep. Alexie Tutor 

More individuals joined appeals to law enforcers to identify and arrest the perpetrators in killing a local leader of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Rep. Alexie Besas-Tutor of Bohol’s third district condemned the killing of John Engelbert Liao, who was shot while driving his motorcycle in Guindulman town last Wednesday night, June 29.

“This time, I am asking all Guindulmanons that we unite, stand up, not be afraid and help all of us to speed up the investigation of the case. What you saw and observed at the time, we will release that information. We will not agree that we cannot do justice to the incident. We don’t harvest Guindulmanon! The tersero district is not harvested!” said Tutor.

Liao was rushed to the Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City where he underwent surgery for serious gunshot wounds on his chest and shoulder. But the victim died on Monday morning, July 4.

Patrolman Alchito Felecia, desk officer of Guindulman Police Station, said that investigation was still ongoing.

Liao was the founder of 3gb, an LGBTQIA+ community in Guindulman. She and her team were heavily involved in outreach programs.

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So long, Capt. Olano

Thank you for your bravery. Capt. Aurelios Olano and wife Lowella with Bohol 3rd district Rep. Alexie Besas-Tutor and Candijay Mayor Christopher Tutor. Photos: Rep. Alexie Tutor Facebook

Capt. Aurelios Olaso Olano of the Philippine Air Force was killed while three others were hurt when their helicopter crashed last Tuesday morning in the waters off Jandayan Island in Getafe town. 

Olano, 32, was still strapped in his seat when fishermen found him shortly after the MD 520 helicopter of the PAF crashed in the seawaters off Jandayan  around 9:45 a. m. during a routine aerial demonstration training flight. 

Fishermen also rescued Olano's three companions who managed to jump out of the helicopter before it hit the water. 

Based on the accounts of the  fishermen who saw the incident, the helicopter nosedived into the sea and then submerged. The three soldiers survived the incident.

Olano's family and friends paid tribute to the pilot shortly after news of his death came out.

"Anon's humble attitude and ideals have inspired a stronger approach to my work. He is the kindest yet principled person I have ever known," according to  his cousin, Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, Candijay disaster and risk reduction management officer.

Olano, the eldest in a brood of three,  hailed from Barangay Tugas in Candijay town where his parents - Sancho and Marina Olano, a village chair- lived.

He just recently got married to Lowella, a nurse. 

Bohol 3rd district Representative Alexie Besas-Tutor said "Olano's bravery and 

 service to his countrymen is boundless."

"Candijay’’s Angel Above the Skies... Gone too soon but forever remembered in all the hearts of all Candijaynon. We grieved as one as another fallen hero takes his place in the comforting arms of our Almighty," Tutor said in her Facebook. 

Olano was the PAF helicopter pilot during the Marawi seige in May 2017. 

He decided to transfer to Cebu to be close to his family in Bohol. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.