Trans woman, partner held for killing boy, 8

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested a transgender woman and her partner for allegedly physically abusing three children for over a year in Quezon City, with one of the minors succumbing to his injuries last week.

The suspects, both 30 years old, are being held on charges of murder, direct assault and violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

A police report said the transgender woman, who is a hairdresser, is the aunt of the victims.

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 14 in Barangay Pasong Tamo at around 2:20 a.m. on Thursday.

Maj. Rohaina Asalan, spokesperson for the QCPD, said the fatality is an eight-year-old boy.

The victim died on Nov. 14 at the V. Luna Medical Center due to traumatic injuries, according to police.

Asalan said the boy’s two siblings also showed signs of physical abuse. They are both girls aged seven and 10.

Probers said the couple beat up the boy on Nov. 8 after he and his siblings ate their food. The beatings continued for the rest of the day.

The suspects allegedly punched, slapped and slammed the boy’s head on the wall until he collapsed and vomited blood.

In an attempt to hide their crime, the couple rushed the boy to the hospital and told doctors that his injuries were self-inflicted.

Police, however, did not believe the suspects’ story due to the gravity of the boy’s injuries.

The two other children told probers that the suspects have been maltreating them since April 2021.

The children have been under the couple’s care after their parents separated, with the mother working overseas.

The victims’ father, who resides in Caloocan, immediately took custody of his two children when he learned about the incident. He vowed to hold the suspects accountable for the crime.