Balanban Law

10/06/2025

An amendment to the notarial rules.

In line with its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, the (SC) has amended the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (2004 Notarial Rules) to modernize and streamline notarial reporting.

In an En Banc Resolution in A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, the SC approved amendments to the 2004 Notarial Rules, specifically on the submission of copies of notarial entries and instruments acknowledged by notaries public.

Under the Amended 2004 Notarial Rules, notaries public are now required to keep in portable document format (PDF) the certified copy of each month’s notarial entries and the duplicate original copy of instruments acknowledged before them.

These should be emailed to the clerk of court within the first 10 days of the following month using the notary public’s official email address. If there are no entries for the month, a formal statement confirming this must be submitted instead.

All PDF files must be sent as direct attachments to the transmittal email. They must not be submitted as external links to cloud storage, file-sharing platforms, or similar sites. PDF files should not be compressed into archive formats such as ZIP (.zip) or RAR (.rar), and must not require additional extraction or conversion prior to access.

Notaries are prohibited from charging any fees for digitizing, transmitting, or processing these documents.

Courts retaining electronic duplicate original copies of notarized documents are directed to conduct an inventory and assessment of these materials. A report on the results must be submitted to the Office of the Court Administrator, with a copy furnished to the SC’s Management Information Systems Office.

The Amended 2004 Notarial Rules was published on June 6, 2025, in two newspapers of general circulation and shall become effective 15 days from publication or on June 21, 2025.

Read the full text of the SC’s March 4, 2025 Resolution in A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, Re: 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, at https://tinyurl.com/bdzaatrx.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

14/05/2025

N O T I C E

Our office will be closed from May 15 to 20, 2025. For inquiries, you may reach us via e-mail at [email protected] or send us a DM.

We can also schedule online consultations on availability.

We will be open on May 21, 2025. Thank you very much!

06/03/2025

The (SC) has ruled that land buyers must verify ownership by checking the certificate of title and reviewing the records in the Registry of Deeds to avoid fraudulent transactions.

In a Decision penned by Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa, the Court’s Third Division upheld the rulings of the Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals which voided the land titles of a married couple who failed to conduct due diligence when they bought the properties from someone who acquired her titles through fraud.

Orencio and Eloisa Manalese purchased two parcels of land from Carina Pinpin, who presented certificates of title in her name and claimed to have bought the properties from the original owners, the late Narciso and Ofelia Ferreras.

However, the administrator of the Ferreras estate, alleged that Pinpin fraudulently obtained duplicate titles by submitting a false affidavit of loss and a forged deed of sale. Pinpin then used these to sell the properties to Spouses Manalese a year later.

The Supreme Court upheld the lower courts’ findings, stressing that buyers must check both the certificate of title and the Registry of Deeds records before purchasing land. Relying solely on a certificate of title is insufficient, especially if there are signs of fraud or irregularity.

In this case, the Spouses Manelese failed to investigate despite multiple warning signs, making them liable for not exercising due diligence. Several key documents were already on record, including the affidavit of loss procured by Pinpin, the issuance of another set of duplicate titles, a second affidavit of loss by a certain Zenaida Ferreras, and the nearly simultaneous registrations of these three annotations on the titles.

Said the Court: “Since petitioners did not inquire into the register, and even without such inquiry, they are nonetheless constructively notified of every registration affecting the said subject properties, they cannot feign ignorance of such
registrations.”

Read the full text of the Press Release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-land-buyers-must-check-both-title-and-registry-of-deeds-records/.

Read the full text of the Decision at https://tinyurl.com/3njh86mk.

Read the Separate Concurring Opinion of Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting at https://tinyurl.com/3k2p236k.

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

27/11/2024

Just 15 days to go!

Let's gear up to welcome our new Paňeros and Paňeras as they officially join the esteemed roster of lawyers.

The Office of the Chairperson has issued a Notice announcing that the results of the 2024 Bar Examinations will be released on December 13, 2024 at the courtyard of the Supreme Court (SC) Main Building.

The results will be displayed on LED walls inside the SC courtyard and uploaded to the SC website and official social media pages (X/Twitter, Threads, Facebook, and Instagram). The YouTube and Facebook livestream links and QR codes of the results will also be shared through the SC's official communication channels.

READ the Notice in full at: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/2024-bar-examinations-result/

12/07/2024

Due to current work arrangements, we may be out of office often. Hence, kindly set an appointment at least a day or few hours before coming to the office.

Oh, our building was renovated. It is no longer orangy but bluey.

Pleas bear with us as we navigate through our schedule. Salamat!

13/05/2024

PARA HINDI KAYO MAILAW-AN NA PUMUNTA.

Sarado po kami sa hapon (lungs) ng Wednesday (MAY 15) at Friday (May 17). Our hands are a bit full but on these afternoons only.

Pero, open pa rin po kami sa agsapa at ibang mga araw!
Salamat!

Para sure hit, message us for appointments!

29/04/2024

𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍!

Amos Building is currently undergoing some renovations on its facade but the office remains OPEN.

Bukas pa rin po kami as usual. Comes na!

26/04/2024

Law student interns Marnelie Aguiguid and June Ray Cayabas recently assisted Balanban Law in a special proceedings case before RTC Buguias, Benguet and a civil case at the MCTC Buguias.

Enrolled at CCDC College of Law, Marnelie and June Ray are in their first and second year of law studies, respectively.*

23/03/2024

ＷＯＭＥＮ’Ｓ ＭＯＮＴＨ ＥＮＤＥＲ

Bilang pakiki-isa sa lahat ng kababaihan ngayong ᴡᴏᴍᴇɴ’ꜱ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ, inihahandog ng 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗕𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗪 in partnership with 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 ang dalawang araw ng libreng konsultasyon para sa mga kababaihan at service coupons!

Yes 𝘱𝘰, 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 legal consultation for any legal issue or question affecting you (women) on March 28 and 29 | 2024 at 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗕𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗪. We are located at Room 2B, 2nd Floor of Amos Building, Km. 6, La Trinidad, Benguet.

Attendees may avail of 𝙋𝙐𝙍𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙎𝙀 𝘿𝙄𝙎𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏 and 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀 EYE CHECK coupons which can be redeemed at 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗢 𝗢𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 located at Room 2A, also at the 2nd Floor of Amos Building.

𝘒𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘪𝘩𝘢𝘯, 𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘯!

13/02/2024

OKAY. Sige na nga, makiki-Feb-ibig narin kami. 🫣

𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 according to the Supreme Court.
Pag Korte Suprema ang nagsalita, makinig ka, ha?

No buts. No ifs. 𝘠𝘶𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘺𝘶𝘯.

Oo, na. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙩𝙤𝙤!