[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 207-2016, September 30, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 207-2016, September 30, 2016 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 207-2016, September 30, 2016 ]

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 FROM THE PRACTICE OF LAW OF ATTY. CELESTE D. LAUTA FOR ONE (1) MONTH AND REVOCATION OF HER NOTARIAL COMMISSION AND DISQUALIFICATION FROM REAPPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC FOR ONE (1) YEAR

For your information and guidance, quoted hereunder is the Resolution dated 20 June 2016 of the Third Division in Administrative Case No. 11084, entitled "Osmundo A. Posugac, Jr. v. Atty. Celeste D. Lauta," to wit:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Court RESOLVES to:

(i) NOTE the Notice of Resolution No. XXI-2014-900 dated December 13, 2014 of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Board of Governors adopting and approving with modification the report and recommendation of the Investigating Commissioner, and revoking immediately Atty. Celeste D. Lauta's notarial commission if presently commissioned and disqualifying her from being commissioned as notary public for two (2) years and suspending her from the practice of law for one (1) month;

(ii) NOTE the Letter dated January 11, 2016 of the Commission on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines transmitting the documents pertaining to this case;

(iii) REVOKE Atty. Celeste D. Lauta's notarial commission, if still existing; DISQUALIFY her from being commissioned as notary public for a period of one (1) year; and SUSPEND her from the practice of law for one (1) month effective immediately, with a WARNING that the repetition of a similar violation will be dealt with even more severely; and

(iv) DIRECT Atty. Celeste D. Lauta to report the date of her receipt of this Resolution to enable the Court to determine when her suspension and disqualification shall take effect.

As stated in her compliance dated 7 September 2016, respondent, thru her father Vicente Lauta, received the aforesaid resolution on 17 August 2016.

30 September 2016

(SGD.) JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator