Marawi prosecutor gunned down in broad daylight

MANILA, Philippines – Assistant City Prosecutor Saipal Alawi was gunned down Monday noon, May 19, by still unknown killers in Marawi City.

In a phone interview, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said he had already requested from the Marawi prosecutor’s office a list of the high-profile cases Alawi was handling at the time of his death.

Alawi was ambushed on the road from his office back to his home.

In a statement, Arellano urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct parallel probes into the killing of Alawi.

Arellano is the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) National Prosecution Service (NPS), which assists in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses in the country.  

“Whether the murderous assault on Pros. Alawi is related to his work or not, we urge the PNP and the NBI o conduct parallel investigation so that the culprits may be immediately brought to justice,” Arellano urged.

Arellano called the killing “a despicable and senseless act of cowardice which has no place in a civilized society, regardless of faith or creed.”

“We are deeply saddened that he had to be offered as an inspiring sacrifice in the altar of our democratic institution, whose blood will certainly nourish the pillars of the criminal justice system,” Arellano added, expressing sympathies to the bereaved kin of Alawi. – Rapppler.com