Vicente M. Batic vs Judge Victorio L. Galapon, Jr. 465 SCRA Facts: Lete. Judge !n ".M. Victorio This #o. L. MTJ$%%$&'(%, involves Galapon, three Jr., filed administrative the on "pril complaints Trial ),2as &%%), Court ofclaims complainant filed Dulag, against Vicente of the M. hilippines *atic, co$accused v. Vicente inof Criminal *atic Case and #o. Lualhati &'(+ -entitled for eople Grave Coercion0 a3use of authorit, charged gross respondent ignorance 1udge of the la2, 2ith dishonest graft and and corruption, graveVictorio the he pre1udicial respondent attached aforesaid issued toa case 2arrant the a t2o 3est 2arrant of das arrest interest 3efore of arrest dated the ofMunicipal against complaint March the service. him &5, and &%%) filed. 4e his/llert and co$accused "s aconduct complaint proof, that in dated March case '+, &%%). complaints filed against Judge L. Galapon, Jr. !n ".M. #o. MTJ$%%$&'(%, complainant Vicente M. *atic, charged respondent 1udge 2ith graft and corruption, grave a3use of authorit, gross ignorance of the la2, dishonest and conduct pre1udicial to the 3est interest of the service. *atic also charged respondent 2ith engaging in unauthori6ed notarial practice for notari6ing a Deed of "3solute 7ale 3et2een a certain "ntonio Caamic and Lualhati V. /llert. !n ".M. .M. #o. #o. MTJ$ MTJ$+ +$& $&% %, , resp respon onde dent nt 1udg 1udge e 2as 2as char charge ged d 2ith 2ith havi having ng prepared and notari6ed one Deed of 7ale in the name of Lualhati /llert, 2ith the document descri3ing the latter as 8single.9 Complainant adds that a certain "ttorne Custodio . Caete also notari6ed another Deed of 7ale indicating Lualhati /llert as 8single,9 and that this "tt. Caete, Caete, together 2ith his 2ife and respondent 1udge are in connivance to2ards depriving him of his share in their con1ugal properties. !n ".M. #o. MTJ$+$&%;, complainant 4orst Fran6 /llert, the hus3and of Lualhati /llert again filed, this time in the form of an "ffidavit, a complaint charging respondent 2ith ignorance of the la2, grave misconduct and gross negligence in the performance of duties for having prematurel issued and signed a 2arrant of arrest against his 2ife and Vicente *atic on March &5, &%%), 3efore a complaint 2as actuall and officiall received on March '+, &%%).
hether respondent Judge Galapon, Jr. erred in notari6ing the said Deed of 7ale?
la2ers nor notaries pu3lic. The ma perform an act 2ithin the competence of a regular notar pu3lic su31ect to certain reAuirements. Clearl, then, respondent 1udge committed unauthori6ed practice of la2, prohi3ited 3 Canon ,
