This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2008-07-28 |
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J. |
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| Whether or not respondent judge truly acted in good faith when he prepared and acknowledged the subject document is beside the point since he failed to strictly observe the requirements of SC Circular No. 1-90. As noted by the then Court Administrator, the document involved here is Document No. 1158, which shows that numerous documents were notarized by respondent judge in the year 1996 alone. Respondent judge was silent as to whether he charged fees when he notarized documents and if so, whether he turned over the notarial fees to the municipal treasurer. Moreover, contrary to Rule IV, Sec. 6(a) of the Rules on Notarial Practice of 2004,[3] respondent notarized the said document without the SPA of the attorney-in-fact of the vendors which gave rise to the legal problem between the vendors and the vendee concerning the scope of authority of the aforesaid attorney-in-fact. By failing to comply with the conditions set for SC Circular No. 1-90 and violating the provision of the Rules on Notarial Practice of 2004, respondent judge failed to conduct himself in a manner that is beyond reproach and suspicion. Any hint of impropriety must be avoided at all cost. Judges are enjoined by the Code of Judicial Conduct to regulate their extra-judicial activities in order to minimize the risk of conflict with their judicial duties.[4] | |||||