The LGBTQ+ community and its allies called justice for 19-year-old actress and comedian Awra Briguela, who was arrested by police early Thursday morning after a scuffle in Poblacion, Makati City.
The social media and TV star was arrested on charges of physical injuries, alarm and scandal, direct assault, and disobedience to a person in authority.
One of the complainants, Mark Christian Ravana, recounted to police that the star and some companions allegedly approached his group outside a bar and initiated a confrontation. It was then that Briguela allegedly tore his shirt “violently.”
According to a police report by the Southern Police District, Briguela hurled verbal abuse towards the officers and displayed a lack of respect for their authority. She also allegedly pushed one of the arresting officers, resulting in her subsequent arrest.
Yet friends who witnessed the scene defended Briguela, saying that Briguela was only protecting her friends whom Ravana and his group had allegedly attempted to sexually harass.
Content creator Zayla Nakajima, who was with Briguela during the incident, shared in a now-deleted social media post that a man inside the bar attempted to touch her behind and slide a hand inside her bra.
“After this harassment against me and my friend Mary Joy, my dear friend Awra confronted the guy very calmly after the party to defend me and our friend,” Nakajima wrote.
YouTuber Riva Quenery questioned the police’s motives, and asked why only Awra was detained and pressed with charges.
“The big question in my mind and of many people is why did the police only handcuff and arrest Awra? Where are the other men involved in the fight?” She said.
“Investigate deeper. You already know you’re wrong yet you stand by it. So where are the men who sexually harassed Awra’s friends? Where are those who punched them that even when police arrived, they didn’t stop and everyone was focused on Awra? Is it an achievement for you that you got to arrest Awra?” The YouTuber added, accusing the authorities of turning Awra’s arrest into a “trophy.”
LGBTQ+ advocate and trans content creator Mela Habijan also criticized authorities’ actions.
“People, usually men, accuse trans women of being threats to cis women. Yet, when trans women protect their cis women sisters from harassers (who are men), trans women end up getting all the punches and blows — leaving those abusive men free from harm, attempting to reverse the narrative to make them the victims. WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR AWRA! We appeal to Makati PNP, SERVE REAL JUSTICE!” She wrote.
“We denounce any and all forms of sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and attacks on the rights of women and LGBTQI individuals! Being a woman and having fun in a public bar are not and will never be an invitation for violence,” LGBTQ+ organization UP Babaylan said.
Netizens also called out the release of Awra’s mugshot, in stark contrast to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla’s son, arrested late last year on illegal drug charges, whose mugshot was blurred upon release to the media.
“The mugshot of Awra has been circulated, and is made to appear that she is guilty of violating the law. Why are we back to this practice of condemning people even before they are tried by a court? Does that mean if they are not the child of the DOJ Secretary, they’re not entitled to humane treatment?” Lawyer Gideon Peña tweeted.
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