Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate (Lawyer) Age, Wiki, Death Cause, Killer, Husband, Kids & Family
Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate was a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate in the Philippines. She was also a commissioner of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the official organization of all Philippine lawyers. She was brutally murdered by two unidentified gunmen in front of her house in Bangued, Abra on September 14, 2023.
Quick Information
| Full Name | Maria Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate |
|---|---|
| Age | 30-34 years old (estimated) |
| Place of Birth | Manila, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Commissioner of the IBP |
| Spouse | Raphiel F. Alzate (former judge) |
| Children | Unknown |
| Date of Death | September 14, 2023 |
| Place of Death | Bangued, Abra |
| Cause of Death | Gunshot wounds |
| Suspects | Two unidentified men |
Death Cause
According to the police, Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate was killed at around 4:55 p.m. on Thursday, September 14, 2023. She was inside her white car parked in front of her house on Santiago Street, Zone 2, Bangued town, capital of Abra. Two men on a motorcycle approached her vehicle and opened fire at her multiple times. The assailants then fled towards Barangay Consiliman, in the same town. One of them was wearing a blue polo shirt and a dark cap.
The victim was rushed to Dr. Petronilo V. Seares Sr. Memorial Hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries at around 5:05 p.m. The police recovered at least eight bullet cartridges from the crime scene. The motive behind the killing is still unknown and the investigation is ongoing.
Law Journey
Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate was a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate in the Philippines. She had a remarkable career in the legal profession, serving as a commissioner on bar discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the official organization of all Philippine lawyers.
She was involved in several high-profile cases, such as filing a petition before the Supreme Court in 2018 to declare President Rodrigo Duterte’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as unconstitutional and representing former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in his rebellion case before a Makati court in 2018.
She was a graduate of San Beda College of Law and passed the bar exam in 1996. She was a former professor at Divine Word College of Bangued and Abra State Institute of Science and Technology. She was a former legal officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Abra. She was a former president of the IBP-Abra chapter and a former vice president of the IBP-Ilocos Region. She was a recipient of the IBP’s Outstanding Lawyer Award in 2017. Her LinkedIn account is @ma-saniata-liwliwa-gonzales
Who Killed Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate?
The police have not yet identified or arrested the killers of Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate as of September 15, 2023. They are conducting hot pursuit operations and checking CCTV footage that can help in the case. They are also looking into possible motives and threats that the victim may have received prior to her murder.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to promptly launch a comprehensive investigation into this heinous crime, along with all other unresolved cases targeting lawyers. The IBP also expressed its solidarity with the family of Gonzales Alzate and the legal community.
Husband
Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate was married to Raphiel F. Alzate, a former judge who was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2019 for gross ignorance of the law and grave misconduct. He was accused of issuing questionable orders and decisions in favor of certain parties in exchange for money or other considerations.
He formerly served as the acting presiding judge of both the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 24 in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, and the RTC Branch 58 in Bucay, Abra. He was also involved in a controversy in 2017 when he ordered the release of two high-profile drug suspects without bail.
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Kids & Family
There is no information available about the children and other family members of Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate as of September 15, 2023. However, it is presumed that they are grieving over her tragic death and seeking justice for her.
12 Interesting Facts
- Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales Alzate was a public interest lawyer who defended human rights cases and advocated for social justice.
- Gonzales was a commissioner on bar discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the official organization of all Philippine lawyers.
- She was also a member of the IBP’s National Committee on Legal Aid and the National Committee on Women Lawyers.
- Saniata was one of the lawyers who filed a petition before the Supreme Court in 2018 to declare President Rodrigo Duterte’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as unconstitutional.
- She was also one of the lawyers who represented former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in his rebellion case before a Makati court in 2018.
- She was a graduate of San Beda College of Law and passed the bar exam in 1996.
- Saniata was a former professor at Divine Word College of Bangued and Abra State Institute of Science and Technology.
- She was a former legal officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Abra.
- She was a former president of the IBP-Abra chapter and a former vice president of the IBP-Ilocos Region.
- She was a recipient of the IBP’s Outstanding Lawyer Award in 2017.
- She was the third lawyer killed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who assumed office in June 2022 after a controversial election.
- She was the 62nd lawyer killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, according to the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).
