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DOJ recommends files charges against con lawyer
June 30, 2003
The DOJ recommended today the filing of three (3) information charges against a columnist of a tabloid newspaper in Bulacan who represented herself at the DOJ as a lawyer of a respondent in a rape case pending investigation by a state prosecutor.
Identifying herself as Alice Benitez, the respondent is now under arrest at the NBI to face charges for violation of Sec. I(e) of PD No. 1829 (Obstruction of Justice), Falsification of Public Document under Article 172 in relation to Article 171 of the RPC, and Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the RPC. Recommended bailbond for P12,000 for each of the charges filed before the MTC, Manila NCR.
Records show that at 12:00 noon on 17 June 2003, Ms. Benitez entered the roo of state prosecutors Melvin Abad, Nestor Lazaro and Aristotle Reyes. She introduced herself to the two office staff assigned in the room as lawyer of the respondent in a rape case which is pending preliminary investigation before SP Melvin Abad.
Knowing that Prosecutor Abad was out for lunch, she filed a motion purportedly signed by her client for extension of time to file corroborative evidence, affidavits of witnesses, and simultaneously, upon her request, she was given affidavits and other documents appurtenant to the case.
Acting on the motion, she was required to appear on 26 June 2003, for the reception of the documents she earlier requested in which she appeared and again entered her appearance as counsel for the respondent. However, her client disowned under oath the motion she filed on 17 June 2003.
SP Melvin Abad, noticing the unusual presentation of the pleadings coupled with the dissimilar signature of her clients signature compared to the previously submitted, sensed that something fishy was going on.
Following the confirmation by the Supreme Court that Ms. Benitez is not a member of the bench, SP Abad immediately requested for NBI Interpol assistance.
Ms. Benitez was invited to the NBI for further questioning in which thereafter, sufficient evidence were found to hold her liable for falsification, obstruction of justice and usurpation of authority.
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