Former DOJ chief Gonzalez dies

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Former Iloilo City lone district representative and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. died Sunday, September 7, his family confirmed.

The 83-year-old Gonzalez died at around 10:30 p.m. at the National Kidney Institute (NKI) in Quezon City.

In a statement released Monday, the Gonzalez family said Gonzalez passed away  to multiple organ failure.

The family said, "he died peacefully, surrounded by his wife, Dr. Pacita Trinidad Gonzalez, and their 3 sons and 2 daughters, after they prayed the Holy Rosary, his favorite prayer, and recited prayers for the commendation of the dying."

"He was a responsible husband and father, an indulgent grandfather, a loyal friend, and a courageous public servant. Please remember him in your prayers," the family added.

Gonzalez had been suffering from kidney problems. But in September 2007, he received a successful kidney transplant. His driver, Felicito Gunay, was the donor.

On Friday, it has been rumored that Gonzalez passed away but his family quickly rebuffed it.

But his wife, Pacita, admitted that the former solon was not in stable condition.

She then asked for prayers from the Ilonggo people.

Meanwhile, the family has yet to announce details on Gonzalez' wake and interment.

It can be noted that Gonzales served in the Philippine government in various capacities.

In 1960, he started out as a Legal Assistant to the Governor of Iloilo before serving as Senior Legal Assistant to the Mayor of Manila the following year.

He was also Executive Member of the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures under the Office of the President from 1963 to 1969, Senior Committee Counsel to the Committees on Labor and Immigration in the Philippine Senate, among others.

During the Martial Law, he filed several petitions before the Supreme Court against the regime of Ferdinand Marcos.

From 1986 to 1988, he served as Tanodbayan (Ombudsman), appointed by president Corazon Aquino to the position.

He entered politics in 1995 and got elected representative of the lone district of Iloilo City, a post he held on from 1995 to 2004.

He was also part of the prosecution panel during the impeachment trial of then president Joseph Estrada.

But Gonzalez could be most remembered during his stint as justice chief under president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2004 to 2009.