COTABATO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Government officials in Cotabato and other cites in the Philippines have categorically denied rumors that gay men will be rounded up following the May 9 presidential elections.

The rumors started spreading on social media after Cotabato City local officials announced they were conducting ‘Oplan Baklas.’ (Operation Gay Men)

It turns out that indeed, the plan did round up and rid the city not of gay men but of campaign posters and paraphernalia.  It was part of a city-wide clean-up drive after the elections.  Similar clean-up campaigns were launched in many parts of the country.

‘Baklas’ which is plural for gay men also means to “remove” or “dismantle.”

All’s well that ends well.