National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested on Monday five individuals for illegally performing notarization services despite not being licensed lawyers in Davao City.
Although it did not identify the arrested suspects, the NBI said criminal charges will be filed against them for falsification of public documents, usurpation of authority, and violation of the Notarial Act.
Not all lawyers can notarize documents. A lawyer has to apply and secure a commission from the Supreme Court (SC) to act as notary public.
The NBI said on Tuesday, July 29, the five suspects were arrested by the operatives of the NBI’s Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI-SEMRO) during operations conducted on Monday, July 28, in Bolton, Magallanes, and C.M. Recto.
The operations were conducted upon the request of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Davao Chapter President Ferdinand Taglucop and Davao Executive Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan.
Taglucop and Apao-Adlawan asked the NBI “to arrest and prosecute individuals who falsely present themselves as lawyers or notaries public and illegally offer notarization services for a fee.”
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago advised the public to exercise vigilance and to verify the identities of individuals claiming to be lawyers or notaries.
He urged the public to report similar activities to the NBI or the IBP. (Jeffrey Damicog)
