WILLIAM HECTOR MARIA vs. ATTY. WILFREDO R.

CORTEZ
A.C. No. 7880 April 11, 2012
FACTS
William Hector Maria is a citizen of New Zealand, and married to Ernita Villanueva-Maria from Tagudin,
Ilocos Sur. In September 2005, William and his wife Ernita (Spouses Maria) took a vacation in Ilocos Sur
from Australia. They met Emmanuel Biteng and Ethel Biteng (or the Spouses Biteng), who represented
themselves as caretakers of certain parcels of land which is for sale.
Spouses Maria, being interested in the sale, came to know that the properties were separately registered
under the names of Emmanuel Biteng’s aunts namely: Gundaway Biteng and Namnama B. Alberto, and
his late father Pascual Biteng.
Being confronted with the issue on ownership, Emmanuel presented an SPA allegedly signed by Gundaway
and Namnama, assigning Emmanuel as their attorney-in-fact in all transactions pertaining to the subject
properties. The SPA was notarized by Atty Wilfredo R. Cortez and entered in his Notarial Register as
Document No. 1553, Page No. 313, Book No. XV, Series of 2005.
Complainant William Maria, however, doubted the authenticity of the document as it appeared to be a mere
photocopy. Besides, he learned that both Gundaway and Namnama were living abroad. Spouses Biteng,
however, promised to send Spouses Maria a duly signed SPA notarized in the USA. Relying on their word,
Ernita affixed her signature on the 2 Deeds of Sale.
In 2006, Spouses Maria found out that TCTs over the subject properties have already been issued in their
names but were in the possession of the Spouses Biteng who refused to deliver it to them. This prompted
the Spouses Maria to get in touch with Gundaway and Namnama in the USA who told them that they
(Gundaway and Namnana) did not execute any SPA in favor of Emmanuel.
Maria came back to the Philippines and reviewed all documents involved in the sale and noticed that they
were all notarized by Atty Cortez. Hence, he filed the instant administrative case which prayed for the
respondent’s suspension as a notary public and for his disbarment for violating his sworn duty as a lawyer.
In his Answer, Atty Cortez asserted that he had no active participation in the sale; that his two well-trusted
secretaries scrutinized every document, specifically the identities of the parties involved and the
authenticity of their signatures, before they were brought to him for his notarial signature.
He also averred that the SPA he notarized was not the one used in the registration of the subject properties,
since it was replaced with another one upon the insistence of Spouses Maria. He also stressed that he was
merely being implicated in the feud between the parties regarding the selling price of the subject properties.
The instant case was referred to the IBP for investigation, report and recommendation. In his report,
Investigating Commissioner Acerey C. Pacheco found the respondent administratively liable for having
notarized the SPA in the absence of the alleged affiants and without knowing whether or not the signatures
appearing therein belong to the supposed affiants. Thus, the Investigating Commissioner recommended
that the respondent be reprimanded and denied commission as a notary public for a period of one (1) year.
A motion for reconsideration was filed by the respondent, pleading that the penalty was too harsh. The IBP
Board of Governors denied the respondents motion for reconsideration.
ISSUE
 WON Atty Cortez should be denied commission as a notary public for one (1) year.
RULING
YES. A notary public is empowered to perform a variety of notarial acts, most common of which are the
acknowledgement and affirmation of documents or instruments. In the performance of these notarial acts,
the notary public must be mindful of the significance of the notarial seal affixed on documents. The notarial
seal converts a document from a private to a public instrument, after which it may be presented as evidence
without need for proof of its genuineness and due execution. Thus, notarization should not be treated as an
empty, meaningless or routinary act.
Rule IV, Section 2(b) of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice reads:
Section 2. Prohibitions
(b) A person shall not perform a notarial act if the person involved as signatory to the instrument
or document
(1) is not in the notarys presence personally at the time of the notarization; and
(2) is not personally known to the notary public or otherwise identified by the notary public through
competent evidence of identity as defined by these Rules.
In the instant case, it was clearly established that the respondent notarized the subject SPA without having
Gundaway and Namnama personally appear before him as required by law. In his Answer, he stated that
he merely relies on his two secretaries in scrutinizing all contents of documents including the authenticity
of its signatories. This was what actually transpired with regard to the subject SPA when Emmanuel went
to the respondent’s office to have the SPA notarized. The secretaries were familiar with Emmanuel for
being a long time Barangay Chairman. With the secretaries’ assurance that they knew Emmanuel in person,
the respondent affixed his notarial signature on the SPA without even requiring the physical presence of
Gundaway and Namnama whose names appear as signatories on the SPA.
The respondent’s excuse that the SPA was never used or has been replaced during the registration of the
subject lands is of no moment. The fact remains that the SPA was notarized without complying with the
requirements of the law.
It should be noted that a notary publics function should not be trivialized and a notary public must discharge
his powers and duties which are impressed with public interest, with accuracy and fidelity. A notary public
exercises duties calling for carefulness and faithfulness. Notaries must inform themselves of the facts they
certify to; most importantly, they should not take part or allow themselves to be part of illegal transactions.
We agree with the IBP that the respondents Answer to the complaint, is virtually an admission that he failed
to exercise the due diligence required of him in the performance of the duties of notary public. Such
negligence cannot be countenanced and warrants sanction from the Court.
In imposing the penalty, the Court is mindful that removal from the Bar should not really be decreed when
any punishment less severe - reprimand, temporary suspension or fine - would accomplish the end desired.
In the absence of bad faith and the fact that this is the first infraction lodged against him for the past 20
years, the Court finds that a suspension of six (6) months as notary public would suffice. The respondent,
and for that matter, all notaries public, are hereby cautioned to be very careful and diligent in ascertaining
the true identities of the parties executing the document before them, especially when it involves disposition
of a property, as this Court will deal with such cases more severely in the future.