Motion for extension of time LIMITED to fifteen (15) days

As early as August 26, 1986 in the case of Lacsamana vs. Second Special Cases Division of the Intermediate Appellant Court, this Court had already put a stop to and set a policy on overly long extensions of time. The Court said: "Beginning one month after the promulgation of this Decision, an extension of only fifteen days for filing a petition for review may be granted by the Court of Appeals, save in exceptionally meritorious cases. The motion for extension of time must be filed and the corresponding docket fee paid within the reglementary period of appeal. Accordingly, the Court of Appeals promulgated its Rules which took effect on August 18, 1988, thus: "Rule 6, Section 3. Petitions for Review.- Within the period to appeal, the petitioner shall file a verified petition x x x. Upon proper motion presented before the expiration of the original reglementary period, the Court may grant a non-extensible additional period of fifteen (15) days save in exceptionally meritorious cases within which to file the petition for review; Provided, however, that should there be no petition filed within the extended period, the case shall be dismissed. A petition filed after the period shall be denied due course outright. x x x." The latter case of Liboro vs. Court of Appeals explicitly upheld the generally non-extensible nature of the fifteen (15) days extension. [G.R. No. 106564. November 28, 1996]