A LAWMAKER here reported that the Davao City Justice Zone is proposing an ordinance to crack down on unauthorized notarial practices in the city to address legal security concerns.
Councilor Atty. Bai Hundra Cassandra Advincula, committee chair on rules, privileges, laws, and ordinances, noted the need to institutionalize the Anti-Fake Notary Ordinance, noting it is a “prevalent” problem in the legal community.
Advincula said this has been a recurring complaint of the lawyers in the city.
“We would also like to protect our public and to remind them that they must always transact with legitimate lawyers; they must appear before the offices of our legal lawyers,” the councilor said during the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Advincula said the Davao City Justice Zone has proposed strict regulatory measures targeting unauthorized notarial practices to protect the documents and legal transactions.
The proposed ordinance prohibits acts such as approaching, trying, escorting, or collecting documents and IDs for notary and fake notary acts, such as using fabricated seals or posing as commissioned notary publics.
The proposal specified a ban on unsolicited notarial services within 200 meters of government offices.
Additionally, it also seeks to penalize individuals operating without a valid commission, including notarial barkers soliciting outside government offices.
Advincula said the measure aims to protect citizens from exploitation by individuals masquerading as legal professionals in the guise of affordable fees.
The councilor emphasized existing avenues for affordable legal services to address the root cause of citizens resorting to unauthorized fixers due to high costs.
These include the mandatory Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) minimum schedule of fees, free legal aid clinics through law schools, the IBP legal aid office, monthly LGU-partnered legal caravans, and the “Lawyer of the Day” initiative at the Hall of Justice.
The proposal is still at the committee level but is expected to address the prevalence of fake notaries endangering the legal community.