Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82988:56964&catid=1584&Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 15:50:18+00:00

Document:
G.R. No. 191906, June 02, 2014 - JOSELITO MA. P. JACINTO (FORMERLY PRESIDENT OFF. JACINTO GROUP, INC.), Petitioner, v. EDGARDO* GUMARU, JR., Respondent.
JOSELITO MA. P. JACINTO (FORMERLY PRESIDENT OFF. JACINTO GROUP, INC.), Petitioner, v. EDGARDO* GUMARU, JR., Respondent.
Separation pay based on two months per year of service.
10% of all sums accruing shall be adjudged as attorney’s fees.
It is understood that the withholding of the separation benefits plus other monetary claims shall earn legal interest of 12% per annum from the time [they were] unlawfully withheld on September 01, 2000.
On February 6, 2006, a Writ of Execution11 was issued in the labor case. A Second Alias Writ of Execution was issued and returned when the first one expired. By virtue of such alias writ, real property belonging to petitioner – located in Baguio City and covered by Original Certificate of Title No. P–2010 – was levied upon, and was scheduled to be sold at auction on June 27, 2008 or July 4, 2008.
On June 20, 2008, petitioner filed an Extremely Urgent Motion to Lift and Annul Levy on Execution12 praying, among others, that the scheduled June 27, 2008 auction sale be restrained, and that the execution process covered by the Second Alias Writ of Execution be invalidated.
On June 20, 2008, respondents filed a Motion to Lift and Annul levy on execution on the ground that the writ of execution served had already elapsed.
Finding that the writ of execution was issued on September 07, 2007 and pursuant to the Supreme Court’s declaration in the case of Merlinda Dagooc vs. Roberto Endina, 453 SCRA 423 quoting section 14 of the Revised Rules of Court, that the writ has a life of five years, the instant Motion is hereby DENIED.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the NLRC Sheriff is hereby ORDERED to proceed with the auction sale set on June 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM before the Register of Deeds of Baguio City.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Order appealed from is hereby SET ASIDE and respondents–appellants’ Motion to Lift and Annul Levy is GRANTED. The Labor Arbiter is also hereby ordered to oversee the proper implementation and execution of the judgment award in this case.
Let the records be remanded to the Labor Arbiter of origin for further execution proceedings.
Petitioner moved for partial reconsideration, but in a July 27, 2009 Resolution,17 the NLRC stood its ground.
Petitioner went up to the CA on certiorari, assailing the November 28, 2008 and July 27, 2009 Resolutions of the NLRC. The Petition18 in CA–G.R. SP No. 111098 contained a verification and certification of non–forum shopping that was executed and signed not by petitioner, but by his counsel Atty. Ronald Mark S. Daos.
The Verification and Certification of Non–Forum Shopping, which accompanied the petition at bar, was executed and signed by petitioner’s counsel Atty. Ronald Mark S. Daos, in violation of Section 5, Rule 7 of the Revised Rules of Court.
Pursuant to Supreme Court Revised Circular No. 28–91, the duty to certify under oath is strictly addressed to petitioner which in this case is herein petitioner Joselito P. Jacinto and not his counsel to [sic] Atty. Ronald Mark S. Daos. Thus, to allow the delegation of said duty to anyone would render Supreme Court Revised Circular No. 28–91 inutile.
Accordingly, the petition is DENIED DUE COURSE and DISMISSED.
Petitioner filed his Motion for Reconsideration,20 arguing that a verification signed by counsel constitutes adequate and substantial compliance under Sections 4 and 5, Rule 7 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure;21 verification is merely a formal, and not jurisdictional, requisite such that an improper verification or certification against forum–shopping is not a fatal defect.22 Petitioner attached a copy of an Affidavit23 – acknowledged before the Hon. Paul Raymond Cortes, Consul, Philippine Consulate General, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A. – attesting that he caused the preparation of the CA Petition, and that he read the contents of the CA Petition and affirm that they are true and correct and undisputed based on his own personal knowledge and on authentic records. In said Affidavit, petitioner further certified that he has not commenced any other action or proceeding, or filed any claims involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any Division thereof, or in any other court, tribunal or agency; to the best of his knowledge, no such other action, proceeding, or claim is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any division thereof, or in any court, tribunal or agency; if there is any other action or proceeding which is either pending or may have been terminated, he will state the status thereof; if he should thereafter learn that a similar action, proceeding or claim has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or any division thereof, or in any court, tribunal or agency, he undertakes to promptly report the fact within five days from notice thereof. Petitioner explained further that he was out of the country, and could not return on account of his physical condition, which thus constrained him to resort to the execution of a sworn statement in lieu of his actual verification and certification as required under the Rules. Petitioner likewise ratified Atty. Daos’s acts done on his behalf relative to the labor case and the filing of the CA Petition, and implored the appellate court to reconsider its November 5, 2009 Resolution and excuse his procedural oversight in respect of the improper verification and certification in his CA Petition.
Thus, the present Petition was instituted.
4.1. THE COURT OF APPEALS SHOULD NOT HAVE DISMISSED THE SUBJECT PETITION.
A PARTY UNABLE TO SIGN THE CERTIFICATION AGAINST FORUM SHOPPING CAN AUTHORIZE HIS COUNSEL TO SIGN THE CERTIFICATION. IN HIS AFFIDAVIT AND SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY, PETITIONER EFFECTIVELY EMPOWERED HIS COUNSEL TO EXECUTE THE REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION. MOREOVER, PETITIONER, BEING ABROAD AND PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST CONSULAR OFFICE, MERITED THE RELAXATION OF THE TECHNICAL RULES ON VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION. IN ANY EVENT, PETITIONER SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED THE NECESSARY DOCUMENT, IN SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION.
VERIFICATION BY COUNSEL IS LIKEWISE ADEQUATE AND SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT. THE REQUIREMENT OF VERIFICATION IS ALSO DEEMED SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIED WITH WHEN THE AFFIANT ACTED IN GOOD FAITH AND X X X [POSSESSES] X X X SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE TO TRUTHFULLY ATTEST THAT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT, AS IN THE CASE AT BAR. IN ANY CASE, VERIFICATION IS A FORMAL, NOT A JURISDICTIONAL, REQUISITE. IT AFFECTS ONLY THE FORM OF PLEADING BUT DOES NOT RENDER THE PLEADING FATALLY DEFECTIVE.
4.2. THE COURT OF APPEALS SHOULD HAVE GIVEN DUE COURSE TO THE SUBJECT PETITION.
Essentially, petitioner in his Petition and Reply26 argues that if, for reasonable or justifiable reasons, a party is unable to sign the verification and certification against forum–shopping, he could execute a special power of attorney authorizing his lawyer to execute the verification and sign the certification on his behalf. Which is exactly what petitioner did: he executed a special power of attorney in favor of his counsel, Atty. Daos, authorizing the latter to file the Petition in CA–G.R. SP No. 111098 and thus sign the verification and certification against forum–shopping contained therein. Petitioner asserts that, going by the dispositions of the Court in past controversies,27 the said procedure is allowed.
Petitioner next argues that there are compelling reasons to grant his Petition for Certiorari. He asserts that the NLRC committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing its assailed November 28, 2008 and July 27, 2009 Resolutions remanding the case to the Labor Arbiter for further proceedings on execution, claiming that the December 6, 2004 Decision of the Labor Arbiter had not attained finality since the NLRC failed to furnish him with a copy of its September 30, 2005 Resolution which dismissed his appeal for failure to post the required bond and thus perfect the appeal. Since the Labor Arbiter’s Decision has not attained finality, execution proceedings could not commence; the NLRC may not direct the Labor Arbiter to conduct execution proceedings below.
Petitioner therefore prays that the Court annul and set aside the assailed Resolutions of the CA and order the reinstatement of his Petition for Certiorari in the appellate court.
In his Comment,28 respondent contends that with the dismissal of petitioner’s certiorari petition by the CA, it is for all intents and purposes deemed to have never been filed, and thus may not be corrected by resorting to a Petition for Review under Rule 45. Respondent reiterates the view taken by the CA that certiorari under Rule 65 is a prerogative writ that is not demandable as a matter of right.
Respondent notes further that the Verification and Certification against forum–shopping accompanying the instant Petition was not signed by petitioner, but by his counsel, in consistent violation of the Court’s Circular No. 28–91 and Rule 7 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.
Respondent cites that he is already 71 years old, yet petitioner continues to undermine execution of the judgment rendered in the labor case through the instant Petition, which he prays the Court to deny.
The Court finds that the Petition has become moot and academic.
1) A distinction must be made between non–compliance with the requirement on or submission of defective verification, and non–compliance with the requirement on or submission of defective certification against forum shopping.
2) As to verification, non–compliance therewith or a defect therein does not necessarily render the pleading fatally defective. The court may order its submission or correction or act on the pleading if the attending circumstances are such that strict compliance with the Rule may be dispensed with in order that the ends of justice may be served thereby.
WHEREFORE, the Petition is DENIED for being moot and academic.
Carpio, (Chairperson), Brion, Perez, and Perlas–Bernabe, JJ. concur.
* Also spelled as Eduardo in some parts of the records.
1C.F. Sharp Crew Management, Inc. v. Undersecretary Espanol, Jr., 559 Phil. 826, 834 (2007).
2 Spouses Malolos v. Dy, 382 Phil. 709, 716 (2000).
4 CA rollo, pp. 179–180; penned by Associate Justice Jane Aurora C. Lantion and concurred in by Associate Justices Mario L. Guariña III and Maritlor P. Punzalan Castillo.
6 NLRC records, pp. 65–69; penned by Labor Arbiter Ariel Cadiente Santos of the National Capital Regional Arbitration Branch of the National Labor Relations Commission, Quezon City.
8 NLRC records, pp. 68–69.
15 Id. at 488–491; penned by Commissioner Pablo C. Espiritu, Jr. and concurred in by Presiding Commissioner Lourdes C. Javier and Commissioner Gregorio O. Bilog III.
18 CA rollo, pp. 8–32.
Except when otherwise specifically required by law or rule, pleadings need not be under oath, verified or accompanied by affidavit.
A pleading required to be verified which contains a verification based on “information and belief, or upon “knowledge, information and belief,” or lacks a proper verification, shall be treated as an unsigned pleading.
SEC. 5. Certification against forum shopping.
(a) that he has not theretofore commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in any court, tribunal or quasi–judicial agency and, to the best of his knowledge, no such other action or claim is pending therein; (b) if there is such other pending action or claim, a complete statement of the present status thereof; and (c) if he should thereafter learn that the same or similar action or claim has been filed or is pending, he shall report that fact within five (5) days therefrom to the court wherein his aforesaid complaint or initiatory pleading has been filed.
Failure to comply with the foregoing requirements shall not be curable by mere amendment of the complaint or other initiatory pleading but shall be cause for the dismissal of the case without prejudice, unless otherwise provided, upon motion and after hearing. The submission of a false certification or non–compliance with any of the undertakings therein shall constitute indirect contempt of court, without prejudice to the corresponding administrative and criminal actions. If the acts of the party or his counsel clearly constitute willful and deliberate forum shopping, the same shall be ground for summary dismissal with prejudice and shall constitute direct contempt, as well as a cause for administrative sanctions.
22 Citing Uy v. Workmen’s Compensation Commission, 186 Phil. 156, 162–164 (1980); Ballao v. Court of Appeals, 535 Phil. 236, 243–244 (2006); Rombe Eximtrade (Phils.), Inc. v. Asiatrust Development Bank, 568 Phil. 810, 816–817 (2008).
23 CA rollo, pp. 148–150.
24 Id. at 163; citing Nayve v. Court of Appeals, 446 Phil. 473, 482–483 (2003).
27 Citing Altres v. Empleo, G.R. No. 180986, December 10, 2008, 573 SCRA 583; Spouses Wee v. Galvez, 479 Phil. 737 (2004).
32Spouses Malolos v. Dy, supra note 2; Freeman, Inc. v. Securities and Exchange Commission, G.R. No. 110265, July 7, 1994, 233 SCRA 735, 743; Alazas v. Judge Salas, 259 Phil. 432, 437 (1989).
33 C.F. Sharp Crew Management, Inc. v. Undersecretary Espanal, Jr., supra note 1.

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