Aguirre orders probe on killing of Rizal assistant prosecutor

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II condemned the killing of the assistant prosecutor of Rizal province by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Tanay town on Tuesday afternoon as he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate and identify the perpetrators and file the necessary case.

Assistant Prosecutor Maria S. Ronatay was ambushed by a riding-in-tandem Tuesday afternoon at Tanay, Rizal where she was based.

Rizal police spokesperson Senior Insp. Maria Lourdes Usana disclosed that the victim was riding her vehicle when she was attacked by two motorcycle-riding assailants amidst heavy traffic.

READ: Rizal assistant provincial prosecutor gunned down

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the evidently premeditated killing of prosecutor Maria Ronatay. We ask everyone to join us in praying for the eternal repose of Prosecutor Ronatay’s soul,” Aguirre said Wednesday.

Aguirre issued a department order which granted the NBI authority to do a case-build up on the incident.

Ronatay is the fifth prosecutor attacked since last year. Last May, Caloocan City Prosecutor Diosdado Azarcon was shot thrice in the head outside his house along Brgy. 63 Kapas Street in Caloocan.

Last February, Surigao City Prosecutor Manuel Navarro Tesiorna was shot outside his house. Tesiorna survived the attack.

Early this year, Quezon City Prosecutor Noel Mingoa was shot at closed range while outside a restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue.

In October last year, Mati City Prosecutor Rolando Acide was shot to death outside Mati City Hall of Justice. With Ma. Daphne Crystal Umali, INQUIRER.net trainee/JE