In re: Letter of Judge Ramon B. Barona, RTC, Branch 13, Basco, Batanes, Inquiring About the Re-Appointment of Two [2] Non-Lawyers as Notary Public
On April 24, 2012, the Philippine Supreme Court, in a resolution regarding B.M. No. 2493, granted Judge Ramon B. Barona the authority to appoint non-lawyers as notaries public under specific conditions. This decision is an exception to existing rules and allows for the waiving of certain requirements, provided that the applicants hold a Bachelor of Laws degree and submit a certificate of good moral character from two local officials. Judge Barona is required to submit the names and qualifications of the appointed non-lawyers within 15 days. The resolution reflects a flexible approach to notarial appointments while maintaining standards of fitness and morality.
April 24, 2012
EN BANC
B.M. No. 2493
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames:
Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated April 24, 2012, which reads as follows: TEcAHI
"B.M. No. 2493 (In re: Letter of Judge Ramon B. Barona, RTC, Branch 13, Basco, Batanes, Inquiring About the Re-Appointment of Two [2] Non-Lawyers as Notary Public). — The Court Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Office of the Court Administrator, to:
(a) GRANT Judge Ramon B. Barona, RTC, Branch 13, Basco, Batanes, the authority to grant notary public commissions to non-members of the Philippine Bar as an exception to the rule subject to the following conditions as previously set forth in A.M. No. 05-8-491-RTC, to wit:
(i) Only paragraph (4), Section 1, Rule III of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice shall be waived; and
(ii) The following additional requirements are complied with, to wit:
(1) The applicant must at least be a holder of a Bachelor of Laws degree and must present a certification of completion from the school where he graduated from; and
(2) The applicant must submit a certificate of good moral character issued by at least two (2) local executive officials to show that the applicant possesses the requisite qualifications of fitness and morality; and
(b) REQUIRE Judge Barona to SUBMIT, within fifteen (15) days from notice hereof, (i) the names of the non-lawyers to be commissioned as notaries public and (ii) proof of their qualification as notaries public." (adv143) SEDICa
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) ENRIQUETA E. VIDALClerk of Court