Trans Man Raped, Brutally Murdered By Friend, 2 Others; Body Dumped In Vacant Lot

Three men in the Philippines were arrested Saturday in connection to the murder of a 21-year-old transgender man, police said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Sunday it filed rape with homicide and robbery charges against 22-year-old Zander Dela Cruz, 30-year-old Joel Loyola and 34-year-old Richard Elvin Araza over the death of Ebeng Mayor, with Dela Cruz revealed to be a childhood friend of the victim's, CNN Philippines reported.

PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said Mayor's body was found around 2:30 p.m. Thursday in a vacant lot in Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City, local newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

According to a statement by transgender advocacy group Transman Equality and Awareness Movement - Philippines, Mayor was missing for two days before he was found. The group said Mayor was believed to have been raped before his death, and a wooden stick was allegedly found shoved into his genitalia.

Dela Cruz was tagged by a witness as the last person to have been seen with Mayor. Police said he confessed to the crime and named the other two suspects when he was interviewed.

Authorities said Mayor had been drinking with Dela Cruz, Loyola and Araza prior to his death. The three suspects allegedly ganged up on the victim at around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday when they were going back home.

According to police, the three brought Mayor to the vacant lot and sexually assaulted him. One of the attackers hit the victim in the head with a rock when he tried to resist, police said.

When his body was discovered two days after the murder, Mayor's face was barely recognizable due to the physical trauma, police said. Authorities noted he also suffered a broken skull.

Police found Mayor's mobile phone in the possession of Araza upon their arrest. A gun was also recovered from Loyola, who is now facing a complaint for illegal possession of a firearm.

The three underwent drug testing, and the results were expected to be released over the weekend. Dela Cruz and Loyola were also revealed to have previously served jail time for illegal drug charges.

Authorities are now looking into the possibility that the killing was a hate crime.

"That's also one angle we are investigating," Eleazar said.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, for her part, denounced the killing, saying it was "clearly a hate crime" that was "atrocious and barbaric."

"This type of violence has no space in a civilized society where everyone is treated equally and with utmost respect. I hope that those behind this will be punished to the full extent of the law and rot in jail," Belmonte said in a statement released Sunday.