E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 11 of 40 http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65160 First, whether or not the Petition should be dismissed for having a defective verification and certification against forum shopping; Second, whether or not the Petition should be dismissed for raising questions of fact, which are not allowed in a petition for review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court; Third, whether or not the Petition should be dismissed for its failure to observe the rule on exhaustion of administrative remedies and the doctrine of primary jurisdiction; and Finally, whether or not the assailed permits issued in favor of private respondents were validly and regularly issued. The Petition is partly meritorious. I In providing the formal requirements of an appeal by certiorari filed under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, Section 1 requires that a verified petition raising only questions of law may be filed before this Court: SECTION 1. Filing of petition with Supreme Court. — A party desiring to appeal by certiorari from a judgment or final order or resolution of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, the Regional Trial Court or other courts whenever authorized by law, may file with the Supreme Court a verified petition for review on certiorari. The petition shall raise only questions of law which must be distinctly set forth. (Emphasis supplied) The requirements for verification can be found in Section 4, Rule 7 of the Rules of Civil Procedure: SECTION 4. Verification. — Except when otherwise specifically required by law or rule, pleadings need not be under oath, verified or accompanied by affidavit. A pleading is verified by an affidavit that the affiant has read the pleading and that the allegations therein are true and correct of his knowledge and belief. 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. 4/23/2020, 10:52 AM