MANILA – The Supreme Court has fined a disbarred lawyer for notarizing a property agreement between two siblings who had died years before the document was signed.

In an eight-page decision made public recently, the SC 2nd Division found lawyer Glenn Peralta, who was disbarred in 2022, guilty of violating the Rules on Notarial Practice and the Code of Professional Responsibility.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Loreta Hedocil-Menioria, who accused Peralta of notarizing in 2017 a partition agreement involving her brothers Melecio and Artemio over a common property in Zamboanga del Sur. The two brothers died in 1984 and 2005, respectively.

Peralta claimed he relied on statements from the brothers’ wives, who were his regular clients.

The Supreme Court emphasized that under notarial rules, “a notary public should not notarize a document unless the signatory to the document is in the notary’s presence personally at the time of the notarization, and personally known to the notary public or otherwise identified through competent evidence of identity.”

The Court ordered that Peralta be suspended from the practice of law for one year, his notarial commission revoked, and barred from notarizing documents for two years.

“However, considering that he has already been disbarred, the penalties herein can no longer be imposed, but nevertheless should be considered in the event that he should apply for the lifting of his disbarment. He is also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of PHP40,000,” the SC said.

Peralta was disbarred in 2022 in a separate case for various violations of the Lawyer’s Oath and the Code of Professional Responsibility. (PNA)