FIRST DIVISION [G.R. No. 143389. May 25, 2001] PFIZERINC.,MA. ANGELICAB.LLEANDERandSANDRA WEBB, petitioners, vs. EDWIN V. GALAN, respondent. D E C I S I O N DAVIDE, JR., C.J.: InthispetitionforreviewoncertiorariunderRule45ofthe 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, petitioners assail the dismissal bytheCourtofAppealsoftheirpetitionforcertiorarifor having been filed beyond the sixty-day reglementary period. RespondentEdwinV.Galanwasanemployeeofpetitioner Pfizer,Inc.,adrugmanufacturer.Hewasinitiallyhiredin August1982asaprofessionalsalesrepresentative, commonlyknownasamedicalrepresentative.Hewasa recipientofseveralcompanyawards,whicheventually resulted in his promotion as District Manager for Mindanao in 1996.Hecontinuedtoreapmoreawardsasheexceeded sales targets. InSeptember1997,respondentwasrecalledtoManilato meet with his superiors. In the meeting, the sales manager of Pfizer,Inc.,issuedamemorandumrequiringhimtoexplain hisallegedunauthorizeduseof,andquestionableexpense claims made on, the company vehicle, as well as the doubtful liquidationofhiscashadvanceofUS$5,000forarecent officialtriptoIndonesia.Afterthesubmissionofhis explanation,aformalhearingonthechargeswasset.Inthe meantime,respondentwasplacedunderpreventive suspensionandwasadvisedtoseeklegalassistance.On October 1998, after the conclusion of the hearing, respondent receivedanoticeofterminationsignedbyPfizersco-petitionerMa.AngelicaB.Lleander.Thecauseforhis dismissal was loss of trust and confidence. Respondent then filed a complaint for illegal dismissal against petitionersbeforetheNationalLaborRelationsCommission (NLRC)RegionalArbitrationBranchNo.9inZamboanga City.Hedemandedhisreinstatementorseparationpay;the paymentofbackwages,thirteenth-monthpay,andbonuses; thereimbursementofexpensesandincentives;andthe paymentofmoralandexemplarydamagesandattorneys fees.SandraWebbandMa.AngelicaLleanderwere impleadedasrespondentsintheircapacitiesasCountry ManagerandEmployeeResourcesDirector,respectively,of Pfizer,Inc.ThecasewasdocketedasNLRCCaseNo. RAB-09-02-00048-98. InaDecision[1]renderedon14August1998,LaborArbiter RhettJuliusPlagatadeclaredthatrespondentwasillegally dismissedandorderedPfizer,Inc.,topayhimbackwages, separationpay,thirteenthmonthpay,incentivesand bonuses,reimbursementofexpensesandattorneysfees. Respondents monetary award totalled P2,052,013.50. PetitionersappealedfromthedecisiontotheNLRCin CagayandeOroCity.InitsResolution[2]of17December 1998,theNLRCaffirmedthedecisionoftheLabor Arbiter. A copyoftheResolutionwasreceivedbypetitionerson29 December1998.On8January1999,petitionersfileda motion for reconsideration, which was denied by the NLRC in its Resolution[3] of 29 April 1999. Petitioners received a copy of the latter Resolution on 13 May 1999. On5July1999,theNLRCdecreedtheentryofjudgment[4] ofthecase,anduponrespondentsmotion,issuedawritof execution[5] on 3 August 1999. Meanwhile, on 12 July 1999, or prior to the issuance of a writ ofexecution,petitionersfiledwiththeCourtofAppealsa petitionforcertiorariassailingtheaforementionedNLRC Resolutions. In its Resolution[6] of 11 August 1999 the Court ofAppealsrequiredtheNLRCandrespondentGalanto commentonthepetition.However,on11November1999it issued the challenged resolution,[7] which reads as follows: Wemadeasecondlookattherecords.ItisobvioustoUs thatthePetitionforCertiorariwasfiledbeyondthe60-day reglementaryperiod,andisherebyDISMISSED.Consider these: 1)TheDecember17,1998contestedResolutionwas receivedonDecember29,1998.OnJanuary8,1999,the Motion for Reconsideration was filed, meaning, after a period of ten (10) days. 2)TheOrderdatedApril29,1999,denyingtheMotionfor ReconsiderationwasreceivedonMay13,1999.Herein petition, in turn, was received by the Court already on July 12, 1999. 3)FromMay13,1999,uptoanduntilJuly12,1999, computation wise, is already a period of 60 days. Adding ten (10) days would mean a total of seventy (70) days. Asidefromthat,theVerificationthatwasexecutedbyMa. CleofeR.Legaspi,supposedlyanEmploymentSpecialistof Pfizer,Inc.,wasnotproperlyexecuted.Whileshealleges being one of the petitioners (Rollo, p. 41) actually she is not. Asamatteroffact,theparties(Ibid.,p.4),aspetitioners, wereonlyPfizer,Inc.,Ma.AngelesLleander,andSandra Webb.MissCleofeLegaspicertainlycannotbetreatedas one of the petitioners. PetitionersmovedtoreconsidertheResolution.However,in its Resolution[8]of 25 May 2000, the Court of Appeals denied the motion for reconsideration. PetitionersthenfiledthehereinpetitioninvokingRule1, Section6,ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedure,which provides for the liberal construction of procedural rules. They alsocitecaseswhereweallowedthesuspensionof proceduralrulestoadheretosubstantialjustice.Theyclaim thatSection4,Rule65ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedure originally provided: SEC. 4. Where and when petition to be filed. The petition may befilednotlaterthansixty(60)daysfromnoticeofthe judgment,orderorresolutionsoughttobeassailedinthe SupremeCourtor,ifitrelatestotheactsoromissionsofa lower court or of a corporation, board, officer or person, in the Regional TrialCourtexercisingjurisdictionovertheterritorial area as defined by the Supreme Court. It may also be filed in theCourtof Appealswhetherornotthesameisinaidofits jurisdiction,orintheSandiganbayanifitisinaidofits jurisdiction.Ifitinvolvestheactsoromissionsofaquasi-judicialagency,andunlessotherwiseprovidedbylawor these Rules, the petition shall be filed in and cognizable only by the Court of Appeals. IntheCourtsEnBancResolutionof21July1998inBar MatterNo.803,thesectionwasamendedbyaddingthe following paragraph: Ifthepetitionerhadfiledamotionfornewtrialor reconsiderationinduetimeafternoticeofsaidjudgment, order or resolution the period herein fixed shall be interrupted. Ifthemotionisdenied,theaggrievedpartymayfilethe petitionwithintheremainingperiod,butwhichshallnotbe lessthanfive(5)daysinanyevent,reckonedfromnoticeof suchdenial.Noextensionoftimetofilethepetitionshallbe granted except for the most compelling reason and in no case to exceed fifteen (15) days. Theamendmenttookeffecton1September1998.Itwas publishedinthe26July1998issuesoftheManilaBulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star. Petitioners assert that the publication of the amendment was notaccordedwi dedi ssemi nat i onunl i keprevi ous amendmentsoftherulesonprocedure,suchasthe1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. When their petition for certiorari was filedbeforetheCourtof Appeals,theircounselreliedonthe originalprovisionofSection4,Rule65ofthe1997Rulesof CivilProcedure.Suchanhonestmistakeisexcusableand should not prejudice the merit of their case. Petitionersalsocallourattentiontotheimplementationof Section11,Rule13ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedure, which allows a party to explain the failure to effect a personal filingofapleadingincourtorpersonalservicethereoftoan adverse party. The said Rules took effect on 1 July 1997, but because of the failure of many parties and counsel to comply withitduetoignorance,wedeclaredinSolarTeam Entertainment,Inc.v.Ricafort[9]thatstrictcompliancewith thesaidprovisionshouldberequiredafteronemonthfrom thepromulgationofourdecision,ortwoyearsfromthetime theRulesactuallytookeffect.Petitionersthenurgeusto accordtheircasewiththeconsiderationweconcededin Solar Team. In his comment respondent Galan seeks the dismissal of the petition. He maintains that the Court of Appeals was correct in dismissingthepetitionforcertiorariforhavingbeenfiledout of time in light of the amendment of Section 4, Rule 65 of the RulesofCourt.Theignoranceofpetitionerscounselshould notbeusedtopreventtheexecutionofthejudgmentofthe NLRC. While respondent agrees that procedural rules should beliberallyconstrued,he,nonetheless,contendsthat provisions on reglementary periods should be strictly applied sincetheyareindispensableinpreventingneedlessdelays and are necessary to ensure orderly and speedy discharge of judicialbusiness.Healsocitesjurisprudencewherewe declaredstrictcompliancewiththoseprovisions,especially those involving the manner and period for perfecting appeals. Respondentfurthernotesthatpetitionersconveniently ignored the Court of Appeals observation that the verification of its petition was fatally defective. Intheirreplytotherespondentscomment,petitioners underscorethatintheentireproceedingsfromtheLabor ArbiteruptotheNLRC,theyhadseasonablyfiledtheir pleadings.Moreover,iftheoriginalprovisionofSection4, Rule65ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedurewouldbe observed,theycouldbedeemedtohavecompliedwiththe mandatedperiodforthefilingapetitionforcertiorari.They reaffirm our pronouncements that in labor cases the rules on technicalitymustyieldtothebroaderinterestofsubstantial justice, especially in this case where there is an unwarranted monetaryawardtorespondent.TheyalsofaulttheNLRCin failing to appreciate the overwhelming evidence in their favor. Finally,petitionerscitetheCourtsEnBancResolutionin Administrative Matter No. 00-2-03-SC, which took effect on 1 September2000.TheresolutionamendsSection4ofRule 65ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedure,andasamendedit reads: Sec. 4. When and where petition filed. - The petition shall be filednotlaterthansixty(60)daysfromnoticeofjudgment, orderorresolution.Incaseamotionforreconsiderationor newtrialistimelyfiled,whethersuchmotionisrequiredor not, the sixty (60) day period shall be counted from notice of the denial of said motion. [Emphasis supplied] The petition shall be filed in the Supreme Court or, if it relates totheactsoromissionsofalowercourtorofacorporation, board,officer,orperson,intheRegionalTrialCourt exercisingjurisdictionovertheterritoryasdefinedbythe SupremeCourt.ItmayalsobefiledintheCourtof Appeals whether or not the same is in aid of its appellate jurisdiction, orintheSandiganbayan,ifitisinaidofitsappellate jurisdiction.Ifitinvolvestheactsoromissionsofaquasi-judicial agency, unless otherwise provided by these rules, the petitionshallbefiledinandcognizableonlybytheCourtof Appeals. Noextensionoftimetofilethepetitionshallbegranted exceptforcompellingreasonandinnocaseexceeding fifteen (15) days. We gave due course to the petition, and the parties submitted their respective Memoranda as required. In Systems Factors Corporation v. NLRC[10] we declared that theamendmentintroducedunderA.M.No.00-2-03-SCis procedural or remedial in character, as it does not create new orremovevestedrights,butonlyoperatesinfurtheranceof theremedyorconfirmationofrightsalreadyexisting.Itis settled that procedural laws may be given retroactive effect to actionspendingandundeterminedatthetimeoftheir passage,therebeingnovestedrightsintherulesof procedure.Thus,thesaidamendmentmaybegivena retroactiveeffect.WereiteratedthisrulinginUnityFishing Development Corporation v. Court of Appeals.[11] Thus,byvirtueoftheretroactiveeffectoftheamendmentof Section4,Rule65ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedure introducedbyourResolutionin A.M.No.00-2-03-SC,which allowsthefilingofapetitionforcertiorariwithinsixtydays fromnoticeofthedenialofamotionforreconsideration,the filingofpetitionerspetitionbeforetheCourtofAppealswas ontime.Indeed,thereisnodisputethattheirpetitionwas filedonthesixtiethdayfromnoticeofthedenialoftheir motion for reconsideration. TheCourtofAppealsdismissedthepetitionalsoonthe groundthattheVerificationinthepetitionwasnotproperly executed; thus: Asidefromthat,theVerificationthatwasexecutedbyMa. CleofeR.Legaspi,supposedlyanEmploymentSpecialistof Pfizer,Inc.,wasnotproperlyexecuted.Whileshealleges being one of the petitioners (Rollo, p. 41) actually she is not. As a matter of fact, the parties (Ibid., p. 4) as petitioners, were onlyPfizer,Inc.,Ma.AngelesLleanderandSandraWebb. Miss Cleofe Legaspi certainly cannot be treated as one of the petitioners. ApetitionforreviewfiledpursuanttoRule65ofthe1997 Rules of Civil Procedure must be verified.[12] Section 4, Rule 7ofsaidRules,whichprovidesforverification,pertinently reads as follows: Apleadingisverifiedbyanaffidavitthattheaffianthasread thepleadingandthattheallegationsthereinaretrueand correct his knowledge and belief. Verificationisintendedtoassurethattheallegationsinthe pleadinghavebeenpreparedingoodfaithoraretrueand correct,notmerespeculations.[13]Generally,lackof verificationismerelyaformaldefectthatisneither jurisdictionalnorfatal.Thecourtmayorderthecorrectionof the pleading or act on the unverified pleading if the attending circumstancesaresuchthatstrictcompliancewiththerule maybedispensedwithinordertoservetheendsofjustice.[14] Wefirmlybelievethatthepurposeofverificationwasserved in the instant case wherein the verification of the petition filed withtheCourtofAppealswasdonebyMs.CleofeR. Legaspi.ItremainsundisputedthatMs.Legaspiwasan EmploymentSpecialistofpetitionerPfizer,Inc.,who coordinatedandactuallytookpartintheinvestigationofthe administrativechargesagainstrespondentGalan.Assuch, shewasinapositiontoverifythetruthfulnessand correctnessoftheallegationsinthepetition.Besides,as pointed out by petitioners, Pfizer, being a corporate entity, can onlyactthroughanofficer.Ms.Legaspi,whowasanofficer havingpersonalknowledgeofthecase,was,therefore, merelyactingforandinbehalfofpetitionerPfizerwhenshe signedtheverification.Thus,thedisputedverificationisin compliance with the Rules. It may not be amiss to state that, contrary to the finding of the Courtof Appeals,Ms.Legaspineverrepresentedherselfas oneofthepetitionersinthepetitionbeforetheCourtof Appeals.Herdeclarationinnumber1oftheverification reads: IamanEmploymentSpecialistofPfizer,Inc.,oneofthe petitioners in the instant case. Ifwetakethisstatementtogetherwiththatinnumber4, which reads: Our company has not commenced any action or proceedinginvolvingthesameissuesintheSupremeCourt, itisclearthatthephraseoneofthepetitionersrefersto Pfizer,Inc.,andnottoMs.Legaspi.Hence,thefindingof misrepresentation on Legaspis part is without basis. WHEREFORE, the Resolutions of 11 November 1999 and 25 May2000oftheCourtof AppealsinCA-G.R.SPNo.53671 areherebySET ASIDE,andthecaseisREMANDEDtothe Court of Appeals for further proceedings. No pronouncement as to costs. SO ORDERED. Puno, Pardo, and Ynares-Santiago, JJ., concur. Kapunan J., on leave.