DOJ: Abra lawyer slay suspects identified

MANILA, Philippines — Probers have identified the suspects in the killing of a woman lawyer in Abra, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reported yesterday.

“May suspects na tayo. The NBI is on top of this,” Remulla said in an interview over dzRH, referring to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Remulla said the NBI launched a parallel probe and is looking at footage of closed-circuit television cameras at the crime scene.

Maria Saniata Liwliwa Alzate was in her Mitsubishi Mirage parked in front of her house along Santiago street in Barangay Zone 3 on Thursday when she was shot at close range.

Alzate suffered eight gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at the Seares Memorial Hospital.

The DOJ had condemned the killing, which it described as “unacceptable.”

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the special investigation task group created to probe the killing has obtained strong leads on the suspects.

At the Saturday News Forum held at Dapo Restaurant and Bar in Quezon City, Acorda reported that the investigation is ”moving in the right direction.”

He said it is premature to link Alzate’s murder to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections since she was involved with human rights concerns.

‘Tragedy’

Malacañang joined various sectors in condemning the killing of Alzate.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Alzate’s death was a “tragedy” for the province of Abra and the legal profession.

“We join our brothers and sisters in the legal profession in condemning the killing of Atty. Alzate,” Bersamin, who hails from Abra, said.

“We will ensure that our law enforcement agencies will work relentlessly to bring to justice those behind this heinous act,” he added. ”Pursuit operations are ongoing. We call upon our citizens to remain vigilant.”

Bersamin described Alzate as “fearless, steadfast and principled” in her law practice and “unrelenting” in her pursuit of justice.

Alzate was president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Abra chapter and IBP commissioner on Bar discipline.

CHR calls for justice

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also joined calls for justice for Alzete.

“The CHR strongly condemns the killing of another lawyer and joins the call for law enforcement agencies to urgently pursue the perpetrators of this violence so they may be brought to justice,” the commission said in a statement issued yesterday.

“In the midst of calls to address impunity, threats and attacks against members of the legal profession directly affront the rule of law. CHR has since stressed their important role: courts, lawyers and judges are crucial in administering justice as well as in uncovering the truth, especially for gross human rights violations,” it said.

The CHR said it is in the best interest of the government to protect lawyers to allow them to do their duty without fear of threats and retaliation. — Alexis Romero, Emmanuel Tupas, Janvic Mateo