Fake notaries fall

TWO staff members doing illegal transactions in an office of a lawyer who already died were apprehended by officers of Calinan Police Station here in Davao City.

Charged for falsification of public documents and other crimes are Anabelle Sanchez Avergonzado and Jacqueline Tasong Ando.

Residents of Calinan, Avergonzado and Ando represented themselves as staff members of the law office of late Atty. Dennis Ampon, who died sometime in 2015. They were arrested in an entrapment operation conducted by the Calinan Police Station and were presented for inquest before Prosecutor Rogieliza Verallo yesterday, 06 November 2017.

Police Chief Investiga tor Michael Uyanguren planned the execution of the entrapment operation after receiving reports of the illegal activities perpetrated by purported law office employees who have been notarizing legal documents by forging signatures without the knowledge of and authorization from lawyers.

The successful operation was an offshoot to an inter-agency meeting hosted by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Davao City Chapter involving the Philippine National Police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Bureau of Investigation, Registry of Deeds, Land Transportation Office, Office of the City Mayor and the courts to

stop fake notaries and unethical law practices.

“We have strongly issued warnings against these perpetrators through the mainstream and social media,” IBP – Davao Chapter President Rogelio Largo said.

He added that IBP is serious with the multi-sector crackdown of illegal notarizations by non-lawyers who counterfeit notarial seals and stamps and forge signatures of licensed notaries and improper notarization by secretaries or staff of lawyers and other illegal practices. PR