LAGIM: A Filipino True Crime · LAGIM Podcast

The Cases of Jessa Remiendo and Ebeng Mayor

·42 min·1 clip

65% of Filipinos personally believe homosexuality was immoral

This episode of LAGIM: A Filipino True Crime podcast examines the murders of two transgender Filipinos, Jessa Remiendo and Ebeng Mayor, to argue that the Philippines is not LGBTQIA-friendly despite superficial appearances. The host, whose research-driven analysis defines the show, uses these cases to explore systemic prejudice and violence. The episode first details the 2018 murder of Jessa Remiendo, a transgender woman found brutally killed on Patar Beach in Pangasinan. Her death involved multiple stab wounds and a near-decapitation, with defensive wounds indicating she fought back. Police identified two suspects, 17-year-old Isagani Doliaga and 18-year-old Michael Orpano, through her phone records and a witness named Manny. Doliaga confessed he killed Jessa because she told people they were in a relationship, which caused his girlfriend to break up with him. LGBTQIA advocates, led by Noreen Barber, called it a hate crime, but police were reluctant to use that classification. The second case covers the 2021 murder of Ebeng Mayor, a 21-year-old transgender man in Quezon City. His body was found sexually assaulted and mutilated with a wooden stick inserted into his genitalia. Three men were arrested: his best friend Xander Gal de la Cruz, Joel "Sablay" Montalban-Loyer, and Richard Elvin de Lima Araza. The group had been drinking and using drugs before they assaulted and killed him. Two suspects had prior drug charges but were released early through plea bargains. A key insight is the host's critique of surveys, noting a Pew study found 65% of Filipinos believed homosexuality was morally unacceptable, contrasting with more optimistic polls. The legal analysis reveals the Philippines has no specific "hate crime" law, though bias motivation can be an aggravating factor in prosecutions. The host connects political rhetoric, like former President Duterte's rape jokes, to a culture that normalizes violence against women and trans people. The concept of "transphobic rape" is introduced to describe crimes motivated by a desire to "correct" a victim's gender identity. The host stresses that Pride Month's origins are in protest, making it a fitting time to discuss this violence. They reject victim-blaming comments about Jessa's case, challenging listeners to consider if reactions would differ if the victim were cisgender. The tone is educational and advocacy-focused, blending detailed narrative storytelling with clear sociological and legal commentary. It is conversational yet firm, directly addressing the audience to provoke reflection and allyship. This episode is essential for listeners interested in true crime with a social justice lens, particularly those concerned with LGBTQIA rights in the Philippines. It may be too graphic or politically charged for listeners seeking purely sensational or apolitical crime stories.

As heard by us

A grave, socially framed reconstruction of Jessa's killing and the limits of LGBTQIA visibility in the Philippines.

Lagim sets Jessa's killing against a broader question: whether public signs of acceptance can sit beside real danger for LGBTQIA Filipinos. It moves from gender-neutral language, celebrity visibility, gay pageants, gay-friendly beaches, and a 73 percent acceptance survey to the…

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Why you'd press play

You want a Filipino true-crime listen that starts by challenging easy ideas about LGBTQIA acceptance, then moves toward a terrifying night near the beach.

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