The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Southeastern Mindanao Regional Office (SEMRO) arrested five in Davao City for posing as lawyers and notaries public and offering illegal notarization services.

The operation, conducted on 28 July 2025, was implemented following a request from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Davao Chapter and the Office of the Executive Judge.

They were apprehended in separate locations across Davao City, including Bolton, Magallanes, and C.M. Recto, during an entrapment operation coordinated with local authorities.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago warned the public to verify the credentials of individuals claiming to be lawyers or notaries, emphasizing that such fraudulent activities violate the law and undermine the legal profession.

The NBI-SEMRO is preparing criminal charges against the suspects for violations including falsification of public documents, usurpation of authority, and breaches of the Notarial Act. The bureau urged the public to report similar illegal activities to their office or the IBP.