Law firm ladies to be freed

TWO law firm two employees, earlier arrested for illegal notary transactions, were released from jail after the Davao City Prosecution Office dismissed two weeks ago the complaint filed against them last November 4.

Charged with Falsification of the Public Documents are Anabelle Sanchez Avergonzado and Jacquelyn Tasong Ando, who both work

in a law firm of a lawyer who passed away in 2015, and both residents from Calinan District, Davao City.

In a three-page resolution dated November 9, the two accused were charged following the complaint filed by Police Officer 2 (PO2) Alsibar Jama Ismael, of the Calinan Police Station, whose team conducted the entrapment operation.

Prosecutor Rogieliza D. Verallo, however, recommended the dismissal of the complaint filed before his office, for lack of evidence. He said the complainant could not establish who among the two accused signed the documents.

Avergonzado and Ando represented themselves as staff of the law office of the late lawyer Dennis Ampon. They were arrested on November 3 then brought for inquest before Prosecutor Rogieliza Verallo.

Ismael attested that the accused were seen sitting by the counter inside Ampon’s law office and his associate lawyer Fatima Irene Adin, at the Conception Building on Roman Diaz Extension corner Ramon Magsaysay Street in Calinan.

When Ismael asked the accused about the affidavit of loss for his missing Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification (ID) card, Ando told him that Adin is still outside, but if he is willing to wait, they will prepare the affidavit.

Ismael said after the two accused gave him some details, he went out and waited outside the office. He added that when he returned, Ando told him to affix his signature on the affidavit of loss. He then paid the notarial fee.

The complainant said he did not see Adin in the law office, yet, his affidavit of loss appeared notarized by the notary public.

Calinan Police Station head Chief Inspector Michael Uyanguren earlier said the station planned the execution of the entrapment operation after receiving reports on alleged illegal activity perpetrated by the two employees of the firm. ICT