G.R. No. 211636 - Penson vs. Commission on Elections, Constituted as the National Board of Canvassers for Senators and Party-List Representatives

In February 2008, rumors arose that petitioner Nerio Pador was cultivating marijuana in Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City.
On 17 March 2008, respondents—barangay tanods—raided an area in Barangay Tabunan (identified as Sitio Gining adjacent to a lot under David Quintana) in connection with the alleged marijuana cultivation. Petitioners contended the raid was against their ampalaya farm.
Following the raid, petitioner-spouses Nerio and Soledad Pador, along with Rey Pador, received invitation letters from Barangay Captain Bernabe Arcayan to attend a conference. Petitioners, after consulting legal counsel, sent a letter-reply instead of attending.
The Barangay Captain allegedly refused to sign a receipt acknowledging the letter-reply.
Petitioners alleged that the raid, the issuance of the invitation letters, and the refusal to acknowledge their response, along with the potential for further harassment and false accusations—including threats and intimidation—posed a grave threat to their rights to life, liberty, and security.
The RTC, after examining the affidavits and documents, granted a writ of amparo and directed a verified return from respondents. However, in the subsequent proceedings, the RTC eventually issued a resolution on 3 July 2008 denying petitioners the amparo relief on the basis that their claims were based on hearsay, speculations, and insufficient evidence.

Whether the alleged actions of the respondents—namely, the conduct of the raid, the sending of invitation letters without a clear purpose, and the refusal to sign the petitioners’ letter-reply—amounted to an unlawful act or omission that threatened the petitioners’ rights to life, liberty, and security.
Whether such actions qualify as grounds for the issuance of a writ of amparo, which is intended to address extralegal killings, enforced disappearances, or threats therewith, rather than mere property rights violations or unfounded anticipations of harassment.