Man posing as lawyer caught in court

A man impersonating a lawyer was arrested last Monday inside a courtroom in Marikina City while representing a client facing possession of illegal drugs charges.

Judge Geraldine Macaraeg of the Marikina City Regional Trial Court Branch 192 ordered the arrest of Ephrain Apuan after she had been tipped off that he was not a lawyer.

Apuan, a resident of Cainta, Rizal, did not resist when a team headed by Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., Marikina City police chief, collared him in Macaraeg’s courtroom at about 9 a.m. Monday.

A law graduate from the Manuel L. Quezon University in 2004, Apuan admitted having no license. He said he took the bar exams in 2006 but the Supreme Court has yet to release the results.

Ramos said Apuan appeared before Macaraeg’s sala Monday to represent Jervie Daliwan, who was caught in possession of illegal drugs in 2004.

However, before the hearing could start, an informant had tipped off Macaraeg that Apuan had not yet passed the bar. Macaraeg confronted Apuan and ordered him to show documents to prove that he licensed to practice law.

Macaraeg ordered Ramos to have him arrested and charged in court when Apuan could not present any documents.

Apuan told Ramos during questioning that he was not demanding any acceptance fee from Daliwan and his other clients. But he admitted receiving P3,500 from Daliwan’s family and P1,000 per appearance in court.

Last Monday’s appearance in Macaraeg’s sala was his third, Apuan said, adding that he has been representing Daliwan since 2005.

Macaraeg ordered Daliwan’s family to coordinate with Ramos for the filing of usurpation of authority and estafa charges against Apuan, who is now detained at the Marikina City detention center.

"We are appealing to other victim’s or clients of Apuan to come forward and file necessary charges against him so he would spend more time in jail," said Ramos.