[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 153-2018, July 12, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 153-2018, July 12, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 153-2018, July 12, 2018 ]

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. SIMPLICIO M. SEVILLEJA FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR THREE (3) MONTHS AND REVOCATION OF HIS NOTARIAL COMMISSION AND DISQUALIFICATION FROM REAPPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC FOR TWO (2) YEARS

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 19 June 2017 of the Third Division in Administrative Case No. 11587, entitled "Lilian T. Sabado, et al. v. Atty. Zane Mark D. Bongayon and Atty. Simplicio M. Sevilleja," to wit:

WHEREFORE, We AFFIRM Resolution No. XXI- 2014-460 dated August 9, 2014 of the IBP Board of Governors in CBD Case No. 12-3617. The complaint against Atty. Zane Mark D. Bongayon is without merit; thus, the same is DISMISSED.

For violating Canons 1 and 9 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, the Lawyer's Oath and the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, we find Atty. Simplicio M. Sevilleja GUILTY. Further, his notarial commission, if any, is REVOKED and he is DISQUALIFIED from being commissioned as notary public for two (2) years. He is also SUSPENDED from the practice of law for three (3) months, with a warning that a repetition of the same or similar act in the future will be dealt with more severely.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished to the Office of the Bar Confidant to be appended to Atty. Simplicio M. Sevilleja's personal record as an attorney, the IBP, and all courts in the country for their information and guidance.

In a Resolution dated 14 March 2018, the Court DENIED with FINALITY the respondent's Motion for Reconsideration, as no substantial matters were raised to warrant its reconsideration. Per Registry Return Receipt No. 43509, respondent Atty. Sevilleja received a copy of the Resolution dated 14 March 2018 on 16 May 2018.

12 July 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator