By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Two siblings have been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly operating a fake notarial service in Makati City and using the names of legitimate lawyers to notarize documents.
NBI spokesperson Palmer Mallari said Wednesday that the suspects—a 20-year-old woman and her 31-year-old brother, both from Taguig City—were allegedly running the operation from a makeshift tent along Kamagong Extension in Barangay San Antonio.
The alleged illegal service had been operating for more than a year, with the suspects reportedly changing the name of the lawyer being used on notarized documents from day to day.
Mallari said NBI agents discovered that the operation charged as little as P100 for an affidavit of loss, while the individuals actually notarizing and signing the documents did not appear to be licensed lawyers.
“This is a small place. There is a sign that says ‘notary public,’” Mallari said, adding that the operation’s low-cost service and makeshift setup raised immediate concerns.
The investigation began after a legitimate lawyer with a notarial commission in Manila complained to the NBI’s Organized and Transnational Crimes Division that her name was allegedly being used by the suspects to provide notarial services in Makati.
A separate complaint was also referred by the Makati Regional Trial Court involving the alleged unauthorized use of notaries’ names to notarize documents.
“So there are two complainants here, two lawyers,” Mallari said.
After conducting surveillance and verifying the information, NBI agents launched an entrapment operation on September 15. Undercover agents posed as customers and were allegedly accommodated by the siblings, who proceeded with the supposed notarization of documents.
The suspects are now in NBI custody and are facing complaints for alleged violations of the Revised Penal Code, including falsification of private documents, use of falsified documents, possession of instruments or implements for falsification, usurpation of authority or official functions, and estafa by means of deceit.
The NBI is also expanding its surveillance to other areas in Metro Manila amid concerns that similar operations may be using the same alleged modus operandi.
Mallari urged the public to ensure that documents are notarized only by legitimate notaries public operating from proper offices.
He warned that a supposed notarial service operating from a sidewalk or makeshift setup should immediately raise suspicion.
“When the notary office is only on the sidewalk, that’s a red flag,” Mallari said. “Don’t patronize that because, first of all, it’s forbidden.”
ia/xf
