Fake notary operation busted in Caloocan, several suspects arrested

• Several suspects in Caloocan City were arrested for issuing fake notarized documents using the name and seal of a retired 82-year-old lawyer
• The lawyer, who stopped practicing in 2022 after a stroke, was shocked to be summoned over a notarization he never performed
• Police Captain Marcelina Pino confirmed the fraudulent use of the lawyer’s seal and signature, which he denied as his own
• The suspects face charges of usurpation of authority, estafa by means of deceit, and falsification, with possible penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to P1 million

Authorities in Caloocan City arrested several individuals accused of issuing fake notarized documents using the name and notary seal of a retired lawyer.

The operation was featured in 24 Oras Weekend on Saturday through a report by John Consulta.

On Thursday, operatives from the District Special Operations Unit of the Northern Police District (NPD) quietly approached the target establishment. An undercover agent signaled the team to proceed, accompanied by the complainant — an 82-year-old retired lawyer.

The suspects failed to offer a valid explanation during the entrapment operation.

According to the retired attorney, he ceased notarizing documents in 2022 after suffering a stroke.

His involvement in the case came as a shock when he was suddenly summoned by the court over a notarized document he never signed.

“Ang ginagamit po ay ‘yung mismong notary seal at pangalan ng ating complainant na isang abogado po. Iyon po ay kaniyang itinanggi, hindi po niya ‘yun pirma,” stated Police Captain Marcelina Pino, NPD Public Information Officer.

Pino also warned of the dangers posed by falsified notarizations.

“Once po na nagamit ‘yung mga pekeng dokumento at nalalaman po sa court na due to technicalities maaari pong mabalewala ‘yung kanilang mga reklamo. Kaya malaki po ang magiging epekto nito.”

The suspects, who have been formally charged and detained, are facing multiple offenses including usurpation of authority, estafa by means of deceit, and falsification by a private individual.

If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to P1 million.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, the annual Wattah Wattah Festival in San Juan City was briefly disrupted by a confrontation between two youth groups, resulting in a broken bottle and an injury. Law enforcement quickly intervened to address the scuffle, providing first aid to the injured individual and launching an investigation, allowing the festival to largely proceed. San Juan City implemented specific "basaan zones," limited water dousing hours (7 AM - 2 PM), and enforced prohibitions against dirty water, high-pressure sprays, and dousing from vehicles to prevent issues. Despite the isolated incident, the majority of the Wattah Wattah Festival continued peacefully, with residents and visitors adhering to the rules and enjoying the traditional water dousing.

Still in other news, a man ended up in jail after he allegedly assaulted his live-in-partner over a game of Scatter. According to the report of Brigada News Philippines, the incident happened on June 23, Purok Ilaya, Brgy. Tuyan, Naga, Cebu. The suspect, Satur, is 29 years old, while the victim, Mae, is 24. Mae said that the suspect borrowed her cellphone, and she suspected that he used her e-wallet to play on Scatter, eventually leading to an argument and to the assault.

Source: KAMI.com.gh