Verification secures that matter alleged done in good faith, true and correct

Petitioner argues that private respondent must be deemed to have waived its right to controvert the claim, that is, to show that the cause of death is an excepted peril, by failing to have its answers (to the Request for Admission sent by petitioner) duly verified. It is true that a matter of which a written request for admission is made shall be deemed impliedly admitted unless, within a period designated in the request, which shall not be less than ten (10) days after service thereof, or within such further time as the court may allow on motion and notice, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting the admission a sworn statement either denying specifically the matters of which an admission is requested or setting forth in detail the reasons why he cannot truthfully either admit or deny those matters; however, the verification, like in most cases required by the rules of procedure, is a formal, not jurisdictional, requirement, and mainly intended to secure an assurance that matters which are alleged are done in good faith or are true and correct and not of mere speculation. When circumstances warrant, the court may simply order the correction of unverified pleadings or act on it and waive strict compliance with the rules in order that the ends of justice may thereby be served. In the case of answers to written requests for admission particularly, the court can allow the party making the admission, whether made expressly or deemed to have been made impliedly, to withdraw or amend it upon such terms as may be just. [G.R. No. 103883. November 14, 1996]