[B.M. No. 1132. April 1, 2003] According to Fr.

Aquino, two (2) issues needed clarification, to wit:(a)

whether or not a judge may dismiss an action, expunge from the records
RE: RESOLUTION NO. 112-2002 OF THE SANGGUNIANG or refuse inclusion from the records of any pleading wherein signatory
PANLALAWIGAN OF ILOCOS NORTE counsel failed to state his roll of Attorneys Number; and (b) whether or
not the Resolution of 12 November 2002 maybe construed as precluding
EN BANC a party who may not be a lawyer from signing his own pleadings, as
presently allowed by the Rules.
Gentlemen:
With respect to the first issue, it is worth mentioning that in Bar Matter
Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court No. 287Re:Requirement that Official Receipt Number and Date of
dated APR 01 2003. Payment of Current IBP Membership Dues be Indicated by Counsel per
IBP Resolution NO. XIV-1999-63, we defined on 26 September 2000
Bar Matter No. 1132(Re: Resolution No. 112-2002 of the Sangguniang
the consequences for non-compliance with the requirement for lawyers
Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte, Requesting to Require Lawyers to
to indicate their IBP Official Receipt Number and Date of Issue in all
Indicate in their Pleadings their Number in the Roll of Attorneys.)
pleadings, motions and papers filed in court as follows -
On 12 November 2002 we granted the request of the Board of
All pleadings, motions and papers filed in court, whether personally or
Governors of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and
by mail, shall bear counsel's current IBP official receipt number and
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte to require all lawyers to
date of issue, otherwise, such pleadings, motions and papers may not be
indicate their Roll of Attorneys Number in all papers and pleadings filed
acted upon by the court, without prejudice to whatever disciplinary
in judicial or quasi-judicial bodies in addition to the previously required
action the court may take against the erring counsel who shall likewise
current Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) and the IBP Official Receipt or
be required to comply with the requirement within five (5) days from
life Member Number.The requirement was meant to protect the public
notice.Failure to comply with such requirement shall be a ground for
by making it easier to detect impostors who represent themselves as
further disciplinary sanction and for contempt of court."
members of the Bar.It was likewise intended to help lawyers keep track
of their Roll of Attorneys Number. Considering that the requirement to state the Roll of Attorneys Number
in all pleadings filed in court or quasi-judicial body, like that of the
On 16 January 2003 Fr. Ranhilio C. Aquino, Head, Academic Affairs
requirement to indicate the IBP Official Receipt Number and Date of
Office, Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), filed this Motion for
Issue, pertains to counsel filing the pleading or other paper in behalf of
Clarification dated 16 January 2003 asking that aforesaid Resolution
his client, we see no reason why non-compliance should not be meted
dated 12 November 2002 be clarified so that proper instruction may be
the same penalty as in the case of failure to indicate the IBP Official
conveyed to judges during seminars, courses, and programs conducted
Receipt Number and Date of Issue.Hence, we adopt by analogy in the
by the PHILJA.
present matter what we have already stated in our Resolution of 26 within five (5) days from notice.Failure to comply with such
September 2000 in Bar Matter No. 287. requirement shall be a ground for further disciplinary sanction and for
contempt of court.
With respect to the second issue, it is asked whether our Resolution
of 12 November 2002 may be construed as precluding a party who may Strict compliance herewith is enjoined effective immediately
not be a lawyer from signing his own pleadings, as presently allowed by (amendments italized).
the Rules.
Very truly yours,
We answer the query in the negative.As the requirement is directed
against lawyers only and the purpose for which is to screen bogus LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO
lawyers and protect the public from them, the requirement and the Clerk of Court
consequent penalties therefore cannot be construed as precluding a party
who is not a lawyer from signing a pleading himself as presently By:
allowed by the Rules.
(Sgd.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA
ACCORDINGLY, our Resolution dated 12 November 2002 is
amended for clarification to read as follows- Assistant Clerk of Court

The Court Resolved, upon recommendation of the Office of the Bar

Confidant, to GRANT the request of the Board of Governors of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of
Ilocos Norte to require all lawyers to indicate their Roll of Attorneys
Number in all papers or pleadings submitted to the various judicial or
quasi-judicial bodies in addition to the requirement of indicating the
current Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) and the IBP Official Receipt or
Life Member Number.

All pleadings, motions and papers filed in court, whether personally or

by mail, which do not bear counsel's Roll of Attorneys Number as herein
required may not be acted upon by the court, without prejudice to
whatever disciplinary action the court may take against the erring
counsel who shall likewise be required to comply with the requirement