MANILA, July 23 – The Supreme Court (SC) penalized two lawyers for allegedly notarizing several forged documents.
In a full court ruling promulgated by Deputy Clerk of Court Anna-Li Papa-Gombio dated April 18, 2017 but was released to the media only recently, the SC found lawyers Roger Z. Reyes and Romeo G. Bernaje guilty of violation of the Notarial Law and the Code of Professional Responsibility.
“Here, the failure of Attys. Reyes and Bernaje to observe the utmost diligence in the performance of their duties as notaries public not only damaged to Wee who was directly affected by the documents which they notarized, but also eroded the public’s confidence in the notarial system, and brought disrepute to the legal profession,” the SC opined.
Accordingly, for Reyes, “the court immediately revokes his notarial commission; perpetually disqualifies him from being commissioned as a notary public; and suspends him from practice of law for two years.”
Meanwhile, Bernaje was only reprimanded.
“Furthermore, this court warns both [Reyes and Bernaje] that repetition of the same or similar conduct shall be dealt with more severely, “the court held.
The case stemmed from the complaint of Ernesto Y. Wee who narrated that sometime in December 2005, Dr. Marichi F. Ramos bought on installment his Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia van. Their transaction was completed with Ramos eventually paying in full the amount of the purchase price.
Then, in 2009, Ramos offered to buy another vehicle from Wee, his Nissan Frontier pick-up truck.
However, Wee found out that Ramos had already sold the same to a car dealer named Ricardo A. Uy who subsequently sold it to another person, a certain Harjender Gill.
But the car documents containing Wee’s name and forged signature, and were notarized by Reyes. Only the deed of sale executed by Uy in favor of Gill was notarized by Bernaje.
This led to the filing of disbarment complaint against Bernaje and Reyes. (Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/PNA)
