JUSTICE MARTIN VILLARAMA, JR.: SUSPENSION AND RELAXATION OF THE RULES OF COURT:

Procedural rules may be relaxed for persuasive reasons to relieve a litigant of an injustice not commensurate with his failure to comply with the prescribed procedure. More so, when to allow the assailed decision to go unchecked would set a precedent that will sanction a violation of substantive law (PHIL. ECONOMIC ZONE AUTHORITY, et al. vs. JOSEPH JUDE CARATES, Et al. G.R. No. 181274, June 23, 2010, Third Division, Villarama, Jr. J.).

Be that as it may, the bare invocation of "the interest of substantial justice" is not a magic wand that will automatically compel the Court to suspend procedural rules. x x x The rules may be relaxed only in "exceptionally meritorious cases" (MAPAGAY vs. PEOPLE, G.R. No. 178984, August 19, 2009, Third Division, Chico-Nazario, J.).