[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 152-2017, July 21, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 152-2017, July 21, 2017 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 152-2017, July 21, 2017 ]

TO : THE COURT OF APPEALS, SANDIGANBAYAN, COURT OF TAX APPEALS, REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A DISTRICT COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS, SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS, THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE PROSECUTOR, PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES

SUBJECT : SUSPENSION OF ATTY. ROGER Z. REYES FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR TWO (2) YEARS AND PERMANENT DISQUALIFICATION FROM BEING COMMISSIONED AS NOTARY PUBLIC AND REPRIMAND OF ATTY. ROMEO G. BERNAJE

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 18 April 2017 of the Court En Banc in Administrative Case No. 9040, entitled "Ernesto Y. Wee, Complainant v. Attys. Roger Z. Reyes and Romeo G. Bernaje, Respondents," to wit:

WHEREFORE, the Court En Banc Resolved to ACCEPT this case which was referred to it en consulta by the First Division in the latter's resolution dated April 5, 2017.

The Court finds respondents Attys. Roger Z. Reyes and Romeo G. Bernaje GUILTY of violation of the Notarial Law and the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, for Atty. Roger Z. Reyes, the Court immediately REVOKES his notarial commission; PERPETUALLY DISQUALIFIES him from being commissioned as a notary public; and SUSPENDS him from the practice of law for two (2) years. As for Atty. Romeo G. Bernaje, the Court REPRIMANDS him. Furthermore, this Court WARNS both Attys. Reyes and Bernaje that a repetition of the same or similar conduct shall be dealt with more severely.

As shown in the Registry Return Receipt No. 13081, respondent Atty. Roger Reyes received the aforesaid resolution, without indicating the date of his receipt.

21 July 2017

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator