6. Acts of Public Officers

Acknowledgment

The act of one who has executed a deed in going before some competent officer (i.e., notary public) or court and declaring it to be his act or deed. It involves an extra step undertaken whereby the signatory actually declares to the notary public that the same is his or her own free act and deed. (Lee v. Tambago, A.C. No. 5281)

Special Agent

A special agent is one who receives a definite and fixed order or commission, foreign to the exercise of the duties of his office.

An employee who on his own responsibility performs functions inherent in his office and naturally pertaining thereto is not a special agent. (Merritt v. Government of the Philippine Islands, G.R. No. 11154, March 21, 1916)

NOTE: Where the government commissions a private individual for a special governmental task, it is acting through a special agent within the meaning of the provision. (Largo, 2007)