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Tupal vs. Rojo

REX M. TUPAL, COMPLAINANT, VS. JUDGE REMEGIO V. ROJO, BRANCH 5, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES (MTCC), BACOLOD CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, RESPONDENT.

A.M. No. MTJ-14-1842 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 12-2491-MTJ] | 2014-02-24

 
THIRD DIVISION
 
RESOLUTION

LEONEN, J.:

Municipal trial court judges cannot notarize affidavits of cohabitation of parties whose marriage they will solemnize.

Rex M. Tupal filed with the Office of the Court Administrator a complaint against Judge Remegio V. Rojo for violating the Code of Judicial Conduct and for gross ignorance of the law.[1]

Judge Remegio V. Rojo presides Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 5, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Judge Rojo allegedly solemnized marriages without the required marriage license. He instead notarized affidavits of cohabitation[2] and issued them to the contracting parties.[3] He...