January 22, 2020
A.C. No. 10315 Formerly CBD Case No. 15-4553,
LIBRADA A. LADRERA, COMPLAINANT, VS. ATTY. RAMIRO S. OSORIO, RESPONDENT.
D E C I S I O N
LAZARO-JAVIER, J.:
The Case
Respondent Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio is charged with violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility, Lawyer's Oath, and the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, specifically, for notarizing documents even in the absence of the parties and despite lack of competent proofs of their identity.
The Complaint
In her Sinumpaang Reklamo1 dated December 16, 2013, complainant Librada A. Ladrera alleged that respondent Atty. Ramiro Osorio notarized the following documents: (1) Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale dated June 30, 2008, (2) Acknowledgment of Debt and Promissory Note dated July 30, 2008, and (3) Deed of Conditional Transfer and Waiver of Possessory Rights dated April 24, 2009. In all three (3) documents, her name and that of her daughter Jeralyn Ladrera Kumar were indicated as buyers of a property purportedly owned by respondent's client Dalia* Valladolid-Rousan. In truth, however, neither she nor her daughter executed these documents, let alone, personally subscribed them before Atty. Osorio. During the dates in question, her daughter was living abroad.
Aside from this irregularity, the three (3) documents allegedly also bear the following defects, viz.:
1. In the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale dated June 30, 2008, the competent evidence of identity of the supposed affiants was not indicated in the deed, there was no technical description of the subject realty, and the document was executed outside respondent's notarial jurisdiction;
2. The Acknowledgment of Debt and Promissory Note dated July 30, 2008 was notarized on April 24, 2009; and
3. In the Deed of Conditional Transfer and Waiver of Possessory Rights dated April 24, 2009, the competent evidence of identity of the supposed affiants was not indicated and the notarial certification was false because the document and page number indicated pertain to another document in respondent's Notarial Book.
In his Comment2 dated July 18, 2014, Atty. Osorio counters that complainant was the "direct beneficiary" of the questioned documents as she even used them as evidence in the ejectment case Rousan filed against her and her daughter. At present, complainant continues to occupy Rousan's property, albeit, she has not paid its purchase price in full. She even refused to return the property to his client despite demand. Contrary to complainant's claim that she personally appeared before him for the purpose of subscribing the documents, she, in fact, went to his office and even brought her own witnesses when she had the documents notarized. The signatures of these witnesses were already affixed to the documents when the same were presented to him. He had already affixed his signature and notarial seal to the documents when complainant belatedly disclosed that she and her companions did not bring their respective competent proofs of identity. Consequently, he advised them to leave the documents in his possession until such time complainant and her companions could present their respective competent proofs of identity. He did not know how these documents landed in complainant's hands because he never turned them over to her. He delayed no man for money or malice as he was not even paid for notarizing the documents.
Proceedings Before the IBP-CBD
The case was referred to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Committee on Bar Discipline (IBP-CBD) for investigation, report and recommendation and assigned to Investigating Commissioner Jose Alfonso M. Gomos.
On June 19, 2015, the case was set for mandatory conference.3 Only complainant and her counsel appeared. Atty. Osorio did not attend despite notice. In order to avoid delay, the parties were required to file their respective verified position papers, including all supporting documents and/or affidavits of witnesses.
On July 21, 2015, complainant submitted her verified position paper.4 Atty. Osorio again failed to comply despite receipt of the Order dated June 19, 2015 requiring submission of his position papers.
IBP-CBD's Report and Recommendation
In his Report and Recommendation5 dated August 25, 2015, Commissioner Gomos found that respondent failed to observe due care as notary public when he notarized the documents despite the following deficiencies: (1) the absence of the persons who were supposedly involved in the document; (2) lack of competent evidence of identity of the signatories to the documents; (3) lack of authority to notarize documents executed outside his notarial jurisdiction, Quezon City; and (4) lack of the required notarial acknowledgment on the deeds of conveyance, attachment of a mere jurat thereto is improper.
Commissioner Gomos recommended respondent's suspension from the practice of law for one (1) year and the revocation of his notarial commission.
Resolution of the IBP Board of Governors
Under Resolution No. XXII-2016-217 dated February 25, 2016,6 the IBP Board of Governors adopted the recommendation with modification of the penalty, viz.:
RESOLVED to ADOPT with modification as to the penalty the report and recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner. The Board hereby imposes a penalty of IMMEDIATE REVOCATION OF NOTARIAL COMMISSION, DISQUALIFICATION FROM BEING COMMISSIONED AS A NOTARY PUBLIC FOR TWO (2) YEARS AND SUSPENSION FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) MONTHS, to be consistent with the prevailing jurisprudence.
Respondent's motion for reconsideration was denied under Resolution No. XXII-2017-786 dated January 27, 2017.
RULING
The Court adopts in full the Resolution of the IBP-Board of Governors.
Disciplinary proceedings against lawyers are sui generis. They are neither purely civil nor purely criminal which involve a trial of an action or a suit. They are rather investigations by the Court into the conduct of its officers. Public interest is their primary objective, and the real question for determination is whether or not the attorney should still be allowed the privileges as such.7
The Court's primary concern here is to determine whether in discharging the duties and functions of a duly commissioned notary public, Atty. Osorio violated the Rules on Notarial Practice, the Lawyer's Oath, and the Code of Professional Responsibility. That complainant may have benefitted from these documents is not a valid defense and does not warrant the dismissal of the complaint.
Personal appearance required
It is a basic requirement in notarizing a document that the principal must be present before the notary public to personally attest to its voluntariness and due execution. This requirement gives effect to the act of acknowledgment as defined under Section 1, Rule II of the Notarial Rules, thus:
SECTION 1. Acknowledgment. - "Acknowledgment" refers to an act in which an individual on a single occasion:
(a) appears in person before the notary public and presents an integrally complete instrument or document;
(b) is attested to be personally known to the notary public or identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules; and
(c) represents to the notary public that the signature on the instrument or document was voluntarily affixed by him for the purposes stated in the instrument or document, declares that he has executed the instrument or document as his free and voluntary act and deed, and, if he acts in a particular representative capacity, that he has the authority to sign in that capacity. (Emphasis supplied)
Here, complainant asserts that Atty. Osorio notarized the documents although neither she nor her daughter Kumar personally appeared before him to subscribe the same in April 2009. As proof, complainant submitted a certification from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) stating that Kumar left the Philippines on November 3, 2006, hence, could not have possibly personally appeared before Atty. Osorio when the documents were supposedly notarized in April 2009.
Notably, the BID certification does not contain any statement that Kumar was still out of the country in April 2009. Hence, the BID certification, on its face, does not serve to negate Atty. Osorio's categorical statement that complainant's daughter did personally appear and subscribe the documents before him. The presumption of regularity accorded to Atty. Osorio in the performance of his official duty as notary public is upheld on this score.
The Court keenly notes, nonetheless, that Atty. Osorio violated some other provisions of the Notarial Law.
1. Lack of competent evidence of identity
A notary public is proscribed from performing a notarial act sans compliance with the two (2)-fold requirement under Section 2(b), Rule IV8 of the Notarial Rules, viz.:
SEC. 2. Prohibitions. - (a) xxx xxx xxx
(b) A person shall not perform a notarial act if the person involved as signatory to the instrument or document -
-1 is not in the notary's presence personally at the time of the notarization; and
-2 is not personally known to the notary public or otherwise identified by the notary public through competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules. (emphasis supplied)
The required personal appearance and competent evidence of identity allow the notary public to verify the identity of the principal himself or herself and determine whether the instrument, deed, or document is his or her voluntary act. Too, competent evidence of identity is necessary for filling in the details of the notarial register, viz.:
SEC. 2. Entries in the Notarial Register. - (a) For every notarial act, the notary shall record in the notarial register at the time of notarization the following:
-1 the entry number and page number;
-2 the date and time of day of the notarial act;
-3 xxx;
-4 xxx;
-5 xxx;
-6 the competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules if the signatory is not personally known to the notary;
-7 xxx;
-8 xxx;
-9 xxx; and
-10 xxx.9 (Emphasis supplied)
In his Comment10 dated July 18, 2014, Atty. Osorio himself admits that he had already notarized the documents before he learned from the parties themselves that they did not have with them at that time competent proofs of identity, thus:
Third, Librada A. Ladrera was the very person who went into the Notarial Office of Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio. She was already in possession of the documents marked as Annexes "B", "C" and "D" of SINUMPAANG REKLAMO. The documents were not prepared in the Office of Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio. Librada A. Ladrera had companions and requested for the notarization of the documents marked as Annexes "B", "C", and "D". Librada A. Ladrera represented that the persons in her company are the signatories in the documents. Respo[n]dent Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio believed in good faith that the persons with Librada Ladrera were indeed the signatories in the documents marked as Annexes "B", "C" and "D". But when asked to produce their valid identifiactions (sic) they were not able to bring out their valid identifications despite the fact respondent already had signed the documents and designated corresponding notarial numbers. The non-production of valid identifications (sic) prompted respondent Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio to retain the x x x documents until the production of valid identifications. It was complainant Ladrera who insisted that they are the owners of the documents. As to how the documents eventually ended in the possession of Librada A. Ladrera despite impounding those documents at the office of respo[n]dent Rarniro S. Osorio is another unusual enterprising ability of Librada A. Ladrera.11 (emphasis ours)
By his own admission, Atty. Osorio unabashedly confesses to being reckless, thoughtless, and mindless of his sworn duties as notary public. He peremptorily notarized the documents without first requiring the parties to present competent proofs of identity. There is no showing nor any averment that he personally knew the parties so as to exempt them from presenting to him competent proofs of identity.
Atty. Osorio's claim that he did not tum over the notarized documents to complainant pending presentation of competent evidence of her identity and those of her witnesses, and that complainant probably got hold of them because of her "unusual enterprising ability" speaks volumes of Atty. Osorio's utter irresponsibility, if not sheer dishonesty. His story totally lacks credence, nay, goes against the natural course of things and common experience. His story all the more highlights his unworthiness to further discharge the duties and functions of a notary public.
2. Jurat in lieu of Acknowledgment
Atty. Osorio committed another palpable error when he certified the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale with a jurat instead of an acknowledgment.12 He demonstrated lack of basic knowledge of the notarial acts in failing to distinguish one from the other.
The language of the jurat avows that the document was subscribed and sworn to before the notary public. On the other hand, an acknowledgment is the act of one who has executed a deed, attesting the deed to be his own before some competent officer. Too, the notary declares that the executor of the document has personally attested before him or her the same to be the executor's free act.
Here, the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale required not just a jurat but an acknowledgment by the parties themselves that the same is their voluntary act. Atty. Osorio, however, erroneously certified the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale with a jurat, not an acknowledgment.
3. Incorrect entries in the notarial register
The Acknowledgment of Debt and Promissory Note here was assigned the following entry in Atty. Osorio's notarial register: Doc. No. 41, Page No. 9, Book No. 10, Series of 2009. Per verification with the Office of the Clerk of Court for Quezon City, nonetheless, it was discovered that this entry pertained to an entirely different document in his notarial register, i.e., a document executed by a certain Benjamin Alfonso and Dante C. Rosento, Jr., on April 24, 2009.
Atty. Osorio's failure to make the proper entries in his notarial register demonstrated his lack of care in the discharge of his duties as a notary public in violation of Section 2(e), Rule VI of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, viz.:
(e) the notary public shall give to each instrument or document executed, sworn to, or acknowledged before him a number corresponding to the one in his register, and shall also state on the instrument or document the page/s of his register on which the same is recorded. No blank line shall be left between entries.
As a duly commissioned notary public, Atty. Osorio is charged with the duty to accurately record pertinent information regarding an instrument or document he notarized. For notarization ensures the authenticity and reliability of a document.13 It converts a private document into a public one and makes it admissible in evidence without need of preliminary proof of authenticity and due execution.14
Atty. Osorio's failure to perform his duty as a notary public undermined the integrity of the act of notarization.15 He cast doubt on the authenticity of subject documents. He also cast doubt on the credibility of the notarial register and the notarial process. His acts constituted a violation not only of the Notarial Rules but also of the Code of Professional Responsibility which requires lawyers to promote respect for law and legal processes.16 He should, thus, be held liable for such negligence not only as a notary public but also as a lawyer.17
No showing that notarial acts performed were beyond Atty. Osorio's notarial jurisdiction
Complainant asserts that Atty. Osorio performed notarial acts outside his notarial jurisdiction since the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale was executed in Liboro Ragay, Camarines Sur, but Atty. Osorio notarized it in Quezon City.
Nothing in the Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale, however, indicated that Atty. Osorio misrepresented himself to be a commissioned notary public in Camarines Sur when he affixed his signature and notarial seal to this document. On the contrary, the notarial details on the document itself indicated that his notarial commission was "issued on/at 1-5-09/Q.C." It is not entirely remote that the deed was executed in Camarines Sur but brought to Atty. Osorio for notarization in Quezon City. This is not prohibited for so long as the parties to the deed personally appeared before Atty. Osorio. As required under the Notarial Rules, "a notary public should not notarize a document unless the signatory to the document is in the notary's presence personally at the time of the notarization, and personally known to the notary public or otherwise identified through competent evidence of identity."18
Liabilities as notary public
To emphasize, Atty. Osorio does not deny having notarized the three (3) subject documents, i.e., Deed of Absaloute (sic) Sale dated June 30, 2008, Acknowledgment of Debt and Promissory Note dated July 30, 2008, and Deed of Conditional Transfer and Waiver of Possessory Rights dated April 24, 2009, sans competent proofs of the parties' identities and the required acknowledgment attached to the documents themselves. He, too, does not deny the erroneous entries in his notarial register pertaining to the Acknowledgment of Debt and Promissory Note dated July 30, 2008.
Undoubtedly, Atty. Osorio was negligent on three (3) counts in the discharge of his duties and functions as notary public. He disregarded the principle that a notarial document is, on its face and by authority of law, entitled to full faith and credit and notaries public must observe utmost care in complying with the formalities intended to ensure the integrity of the notarized document and the act or acts it embodies.19
Atty. Osorio's want of care in the performance of his notarial duties constituted a transgression of Canon 1 of the Code of Professional Responsibility which requires lawyers to uphold the Constitution, obey the laws of the land, and promote respect for the law and legal processes, and of the Lawyer's Oath which commands him to obey the laws and to do no falsehood nor consent to the doing of any in court.
His inattention and recklessness in performing his notarial duties have resulted not only in damage to those directly affected by the notarized documents, but also in undermining the integrity of the office of a notary public and degrading the function of notarization.20
Proper penalties
Atty. Osorio's obligation to observe and respect the legal solemnity of the act of notarization is more pronounced because he belongs to the legal profession. As a lawyer, he must abide by his solemn oath to do no falsehood or give his consent thereto, and uphold the integrity and dignity of the legal profession at all times. He is expected to refrain from doing any act or omission calculated to lessen the trust and confidence reposed by the public in the integrity ofthe legal profession.21
In various cases, the Court ordered the revocation of the notary public's notarial commission and suspension from the practice of law for his or her failure to faithfully discharge the duties of his or her office. In Coquia v. Atty. Laforteza,22 the notary public's failure to personally verify the identity of all parties when he notarized a pre-signed document resulted in the revocation of his notarial commission and suspension from the practice of law for a period of one year. In Bartolome v. Atty. Basilio,23 the penalty was revocation and suspension for one year, with prohibition from being commissioned as notary public for two (2) years because the notary public affixed his official signature and seal on the notarial certificate on a Joint Affidavit without properly identifying the person/s who signed it. In Iringan v. Atty. Gumangan,24 for notarizing a contract of lease sans presentation by the parties of their competent proofs of identity, respondent's notarial commission was revoked and he was prohibited from being commissioned as notary public for two (2) years. In Malvar v. Atty. Baleros,25 respondent was found guilty of violating the Notarial Rules, Code of Professional Responsibility and the Lawyer's Oath, hence, her notarial commission was revoked with disqualification from reappointment as notary public for two (2) years and she was suspended from the practice of law for six (6) months.
Here, Atty. Osorio's failure to require complainant and her daughter to present competent evidence of identity and to make proper entries in his notarial register, warrants the revocation of his notarial commission conformably with Section 1, Rule XI of the Notarial Rules, thus:
SECTION 1. Revocation and Administrative Sanctions. - (a) The Executive Judge shall revoke a notarial commission for any ground on which an application for a commission may be denied.
(b) In addition, the Executive Judge may revoke the commission of, or impose appropriate administrative sanctions upon, any notary public who:
-2 fails to make the proper entry or entries in his notarial register concerning his notarial acts;
-8 fails to identify a principal on the basis of personal knowledge or competent evidence;
-10 knowingly performs or fails to perform any other act prohibited or mandated by these Rules[.]
Atty. Osorio's disqualification from being commissioned as notary public for two (2) years is also proper, following Dr. Malvar v. Atty. Baleros.26
Further, for his notarial indiscretion, neglect in the performance of his sacred duties as notary public, and violation of Canon 1, Rule 1.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Lawyer's Oath, Atty. Osorio should be suspended from the practice of law for six (6) months.27
ACCORDINGLY, Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio is found GUILTY of violation of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, particularly Section 1(b), paragraphs (2), (8), and (10), Rule XI; Section 2, paragraph (a) and (e), Rule VI; and Section 2(b), Rule IV, Canon 1, Rule 1.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility; and the Lawyer's Oath. He is SUSPENDED from the practice of law for six (6) months and his Notarial Commission is REVOKED with PROHIBITION from being commissioned as a notary public for two (2) years, effective immediately. He is WARNED that a repetition of the same offense or similar acts in the future shall be dealt with more severely.
Let a copy of this Decision be (1) entered into the personal records of Atty. Ramiro S. Osorio with the Office of the Bar Confidant; (2) furnished to all chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and (3) circulated by the Court Administrator to all the courts in the country for their information and guidance.
This Decision takes effect immediately. Atty. Osorio is required to submit to the Office of the Bar Confidant the exact date when he shall have received this Decision within five (5) days from notice.
SO ORDERED.
Peralta, C. J., (Chairperson), Caguioa, J. Reyes, Jr., and Lopez, JJ., concur.
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 1-4.
*Sometimes spelled as "Delia" and "Dhalia."
2 Id. at 31-36.
3 Id. unnumbered page.
4 Id.
5 Id.
6 Notice of Resolution; id.
7 See Ylaya v. Ally. Gacott, 702 Phil. 390, 407 (2013).
8 Powers and Limitations of Notaries Public.
9 Section 2(a), Rule VI, 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice.
10 Rollo, pp. 31-36.
11 Id. at 33-34.
12 See Tigno v. Spouses Aquino, 486 Phil. 254, 264 (2004).
13 Anudon, et al. v. Atty. Cefra, 753 Phil. 421, 428 (2015).
14 See Malvar v. Atty. Baleros, 807 Phil. 16, 28 (2017), citing Agagon v. Atty. Bustamante, 565 Phil. 581, 587 (2007).
15 Agbulos v. Atty. Viray, 704 Phil. 1, 8 (2013) (citations omitted).
16 See Pitogo v. Suello, 756 Phil. 124, 133 (2015).
17 Id.
18 Miranda, Jr. v. Alvarez, Sr., A.C. No. 12196, September 3, 2018, citing Gaddi v. Velasco, 742 Phil. 810, 813 (2014) (emphasis supplied).
19 See Gonzales v. Padiernos, 593 Phil. 562, 568 (2008).
20 See Bartolome v. Atty. Basilio, 771 Phil. 1, 10 (2015).
21 See Orola v. Baribar, A.C. No. 6927, March 14, 2018, 858 SCRA 556, 564.
22 805 Phil. 400, 414 (2017).
23 Supra note 20.
24 816 Phil. 820, 839 (2017).
25 807 Phil. 16, 30 (2017).
26 Id.
27 Id.
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