MANILA, Philippines — Respect, especially for those who have less in life, has been the battle cry for lawyer Robie Ann Garcia Solacito of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Sultan Kudarat.
Identifying herself as “between cisgender and transgender,” she made history in October 2025 as the first member of the LGBTQ community appointed full-fledged to the post.
In her 13 years as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice (DOJ), Solacito said there was “no question, scrutiny or discrimination” that got in the way of her work.
“I have not experienced any stereotyping or prejudice,” she told The STAR yesterday.?Solacito said being a member of the LGBTQ community “doesn’t define the entirety of me as a person.”
Instead, it helped in her work as a trial prosecutor earn and give respect to people, especially the vulnerable.
“I encounter people from all walks of life, and they associate themselves with me and feel comfortable talking to me,” she said.?
“I appreciate different perspectives and remain sensitive to their realities. I speak to them regardless of their identity, as long as there is respect and they do not feel they are second-class citizens,” she added.
Solacito specializes in laws on women and children.
Aside from being the provincial prosecutor of Sultan Kudarat, she became a faculty member of the Notre Dame of Marbel University’s College of Law.
Solacito is currently a member of the DOJ-National Prosecution Service special project division’s pool of trainers, being manager for its forensics course.
Among the topics in her training modules are LGBTQ issues, she said.
Asked about her views on pressing issues that affect the community, Solacito said pending bills in Congress that tackle SOGIE and anti-discrimination measures “need to be polished and explained more to the affected members.”
Solacito said she “doesn’t agree with same-sex marriage,” but is in favor of civil unions for same-sex couples.
She believes “marriage is the legacy of religion.”
The DOJ honored Solacito by including her in its “DOJ Pride” series recognizing prosecutors and staff from the LGBTQ community for Pride Month this June.
Solacito “is not just the pride of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor Sultan Kudarat, she is the pride of Region XII,” the DOJ wrote.?
“It is important to have an inclusive workplace where employees feel valued, recognizes being you and you can show your best without reservations,” Solacito said.