All Philippine Embassies and Consulates General, as public service offices, have a duty under Philippine laws to provide the necessary consular services such as the notarization or authentication of statements, affidavits and depositions to any person who require such services.

This obligation is provided for in the Regulations of the DFA implementing Republic Act 7157 otherwise known as the Revised Foreign Service Act of 1991 as well as in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), of which the Philippines is a State Party.

In accordance with the Regulations of the DFA, all Philippine diplomatic and consular officers have authority to perform notarial duties.   These include “the administration of all oaths and affirmations provided for by law, in all matters incident to the notarial office, and in the execution of affidavits, depositions, and other documents requiring an oath, and to receive the proof and acknowledgement of all writings to commerce and navigation….”

As notaries public performing their tasks within the premises of the Embassies and Consulates General, Philippine consular officers may take written statements under oath or affirmation.   The person making the sworn statement must do so in the presence of the consular officer.

After the affiant signs the document, the consular officer issues a certification or acknowledgement that the affiant is the same person who executed the instrument, and being informed by the consular officer of the contents of the instrument, acknowledged that the affiant executed the same of his own free will and deed.

The truth of the statements contained in the document is the responsibility of the affiant or the person issuing the deposition as the document, following the authentication by the Consulate General, becomes a public document that may be submitted as evidence in any judicial or administrative proceedings in the Philippines.

Philippine Embassies and Consulates General are always ready to notarize or authenticate any document and will continue to perform this duty as required by law.  END