Malacañang on Saturday condemned the assassination of lawyer Maria Saniata Gonzales-Alzate in Bangued, Abra, and vowed to obtain justice for the family.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said hot pursuit operations are ongoing to find Alzate’s killers.
“We join our brothers and sisters in the legal profession in condemning the killing of Atty. Alzate, who was mercilessly gunned down in front of her home [in] the afternoon of 14 September 2023,” Bersamin said.
“We will ensure that our law enforcement agencies will work relentlessly to bring to justice those behind this heinous act,” he added.
Bersamin also extended Malacañang’s message of sympathy to Alzate’s family.
He said Alzate’s death is “a tragedy as well for the good province of Abra and for the legal profession.”
“We are one with the family of Atty. Maria Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate in this time of grief, and we offer them our most sincere and heartfelt condolences,” the official said.
Bersamin also paid tribute to Alzate for working tirelessly both as a public interest lawyer and as a commissioner of bar discipline.
“She was a fearless and steadfast lawyer, principled in her practice of law and unrelenting in her pursuit of justice,” he said.
Alzate was in her car parked just in front of her house along Santiago Street in Barangay Zone 3 when she was shot multiple times by unidentified assailants on Thursday.
She was declared dead on arrival at Seares Memorial Hospital at about 4:55 p.m. She is survived by her husband Raphiel, a former acting presiding judge of the Cabugao, Ilocos Sur and Bucay, Abra Regional Trial Courts, and their four sons.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines called on the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police and all concerned agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Alzate’s killing, as well as “all other unresolved cases targeting lawyers.”
A police Special Investigation Task Group was immediately organized to solve the killing. (PNA)
Photo credit: Facebook/saniatag
