FACTS:

Petitioner Lourdes C. Fernandez (Lourdes) and her sister, Cecilia Siapno (Cecilia), filed a Complaint for Ejectment against respondent Norma Villegas (Norma) and others before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC). Plaintiffs alleged that they are the owners of a parcel of land but Norma and her family refused to vacate the property. The MTCC ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the respondents to vacate the property and pay compensation and attorney's fees. The respondents appealed to the Regional Trial Court (RTC), which dismissed the complaint due to lack of compliance with the required conciliation and mediation process and because the respondents were deemed builders in good faith. The RTC also ordered the plaintiffs to pay attorney's fees to the respondents. The plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied by the RTC. They then filed a petition with the Court of Appeals (CA), but the CA dismissed the petition due to defective verification and certification against forum shopping. The CA resolution was affirmed on reconsideration, prompting Lourdes to file the present petition. The main issue is whether the CA erred in dismissing the petition due to the defective verification and certification against forum shopping.

ISSUES:

RULING:

PRINCIPLES:

• In filing an appeal or petition, the verification and certification against forum shopping must be signed by all plaintiffs or petitioners. (Section 5, Rule 7 of the Rules of Court)

• Special powers of attorney may not be considered as substantial compliance with the requirement of all plaintiffs signing the verification and certification.