‘Operation Supak’ alarms CHR: LGBTQIA+ residents ask—are our communities still safe?

Alleged moral-policing in Maguindanao sparks debate on Safe Spaces and the right to live free from harassment.

COTABATO CITY  (December 2) — In Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, LGBTQIA+ residents of Barangay Layog say the fear didn’t begin with the announcement—it began with the knocks on their doors.

Barangay officials reportedly went house-to-house in what has been described as “Operation Supak,” identifying residents perceived to be lesbian or gay, compelling them to appear at the barangay hall, and forcibly separating same-sex adult couples living together. The actions were reportedly carried out “on instructions from the City Mayor,” according to a Brigada News FM Cotabato City report on Nov. 11.

For many community members, the alleged operation didn’t just question relationships—it shattered their sense of safety in their own barangay.

Safe Spaces Act: What it protects—and what this incident threatens

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) says the operation strikes at the heart of what the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) guarantees: the right to be free from gender-based harassment in public and community settings—including harassment rooted in homophobia or transphobia.

“Actions like these undermine the very idea of safe spaces,” the CHR emphasized. “Public officials are expected to protect communities, not instill fear among them.”

Under the law, barangay officials play a critical role in creating safe, inclusive environments—yet in Layog, residents say those same officials became the source of intimidation.

Instead of protection, LGBTQIA+ community members found themselves confronting forced visits, profiling, and interference in private life—acts the CHR warns could violate constitutional rights and international human rights standards.

‘How can we feel safe when the barangay is the one knocking?’

Voices from Mindanao’s LGBTQIA+ community highlight the deeper impact:

• Loss of trust in barangay officials
• Fear of being singled out based on appearance or gender expression
• Worries that moral judgment may replace legal protection

“These are not just personal fears—they’re community fears,” a local youth leader said. “If safe spaces are compromised at the barangay level, where else can people turn?”

Religion vs. governance: A line that must stay clear

A barangay official interviewed in the Brigada report justified the operation by saying same-sex relationships are “prohibited… by Islam.”
CHR responded firmly: the Philippines is a secular state. Religion shapes personal belief, not state-backed enforcement on citizens’ identity or relationships.

Community advocates warn that blurring this line can lead to moral policing disguised as governance—long criticized for deepening stigma and pushing vulnerable residents further into fear.

Rights groups push for accountability, protection

CHR-XII has begun investigating, in coordination with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission. The CHR also urged the MILG and the Presidential Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs to take action not just for accountability, but to ensure protection and support for affected residents.

The commission reiterated its core stance:
“All persons, regardless of SOGIESC, deserve dignity, equality, and safety. Our communities cannot be truly safe if people are punished for who they are or whom they love.”

Still no official response

As of press time, the Maguindanao del Sur provincial government and the Bangsamoro regional government have not yet issued statements on the incident or the CHR’s findings.

But online, the story has sparked a larger question far beyond Layog:

If Safe Spaces are the promise—who ensures the promise is kept?

For LGBTQIA+ residents in Maguindanao, that question is no longer theoretical.
It’s urgent, personal, and waiting for answers.