[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 259-2018, December 27, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 259-2018, December 27, 2018 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 259-2018, December 27, 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. MARIANO B. BARANDA, JR. FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW FOR SIX (6) 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 5 November 2018 of the Second Division in Administrative Case No. 12041, entitled "Julian T. Balbin and Dolores E. Balbin v. Atty. Mariano B. Baranda, Jr.," to wit:

WHEREFORE, the Court finds respondent Atty. Mariano B. Baranda, Jr. GUILTY of violating the Notarial Law and the Code of Professional Responsibility. Accordingly, effective immediately, the Court hereby SUSPENDS him from the practice of law for six (6) months; REVOKES his incumbent commission as a notary public, if any; and PROHIBITS him from being commissioned as a notary public for two (2) years. He is WARNED that a repetition of the same offense or similar acts in the future shall be dealt with more severely. He is DIRECTED to report to this Court the date of his receipt of this Resolution to enable it to determine when his suspension from the practice of law, the revocation of his notarial commission, and his disqualification from being commissioned as notary public shall take effect.

Let copies of this Resolution be furnished the Office of the Bar Confidant to be appended to respondent's personal record as an attorney, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for its information and guidance, and the Office of the Court Administrator for circulation to all courts in the country.

As per Tracking No. 1268 0600 8381 of the LBC, respondent thru his authorized agent Analiza Latura, received a copy of the Resolution on 26 November 2018.

27 December 2018

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator