Surigao trans woman killed in Australia

Mhelody Polan Bruno was found unresponsive on Saturday and was declared dead 24 hours later. (Facebook photo)

New South Wales Police have confirmed that a 25-year-old transgender woman killed in Wagga Wagga on Saturday was a Filipino tourist who was about to return to the Philippines.

On Saturday morning, police and emergency services were called to assist an unresponsive woman a home unit in Wagga Wagga, regional New South Wales.

Mhelody Polan Bruno was found unresponsive. Paramedics conducted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and stabilized her before taking her to Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

Despite the efforts of hospital staff, Bruno died 24 hours later.

“It really saddened us … it really saddens us to hear that Mhelody can’t come home alive anymore,” friend Pohleen Nicole Caruz said.

Bruno, who reportedly hails from Tandag, Surigao del Sur, had been in Australia for around two months. She was due to come home in less than a week.

“She’s very kind, nice and entertaining to talk with. She doesn’t have any vices, she doesn’t even drink,” Caruz said.

A 31-year-old man was charged following the death of Bruno in the Riverina, charged with manslaughter and granted strict conditional bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court early next month.

Bruno worked at a Manila-based call center and friends say she was the family bread winner.

“We have no information yet if relatives would need to fly to Australia to get melody or what would be the government’s steps to assist us,” another friend, Haze Ogania, said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs and the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, is monitoring developments on Bruno’s case.

Consul General to Sydney Ezzedin Tago said that their office is coordinating with local authorities, including the Wagga Wagga police, to obtain relevant additional details on the case, as well as to effect the repatriation of the Bruno’s remains once the relevant reports and local requirements are completed.

DFA OUMWA is also in coordination with the victim’s family in the Philippines for other information needed. (10 Daily News, DFA)