“Ading ko. Miss ka ni Kuya... Di pa din tanggap ni kuya.” - brother of slain LGBTQIA+ in Cagayan promises to seek justice

Peñablanca, Cagayan - Grief continues to weigh heavily on the family of an 18-year-old LGBTQIA+ Gian Molina, following her untimely and brutal death.

Gian was found lifeless at the river along the boundary of Amulung and Iguig in Cagayan on June 23, with her legs open and bruises on her head and body.

While authorities continue to investigate the circumstances behind Gian’s tragic death, the victim’s older brother, John Andrei Molina, shared on social media his grief and disbelief. 

“Ading ko. Miss ka na ni Kuya JA. Paramdam ka a. Di pa nags-sink in sakin. Di pa din tanggap ni kuya. Dito ka muna ha! Ayusin ni kuya. Mahal ka namin, ading ku,” John Andrei wrote on his Facebook post. 

The post has since drawn messages of sympathy and support from friends, LGBTQIA+ advocates, and people who know Gian, many of whom have been closely following the developments of the case. 

Gian’s family now mourns the loss and is calling for witnesses and those with knowledge of the incident to come forward. 

For John Andrei, the pain is still raw. His message, “aayusin ni kuya” stands as a promise that no matter how heavy the truth may be, he will carry it until justice is served for his younger sibling. 

On June 22, Gian left her house to spend the night at a friend’s house in Zone 5, Peñablanca. 

When Gian failed to return home, the family reached out to the authorities and posted an alert online through John Andrei’s and other relatives’ Facebook accounts. 

It was on the morning of June 23 when the Amulung Police Station contacted the family to inform them of a body found in a river in town. The family later confirmed the body was Gian’s. 

Initial reports from police indicate that a certain Sherwin voluntarily surrendered after his name was mentioned in several Facebook posts linking him to the crime. Sherwin admitted to being the one who picked Gian up that night, using a motorcycle.

However, he denied that he was the killer. He mentioned there were two to three other individuals involved, but he refused to reveal their identities.

Investigators are still working to determine the killer/s and the motive behind the crime.