Court issues Writ of Amparo vs. Tabunan captain, tanods

The court issued yesterday a Writ of Amparo against Tabunan barangay captain Bernabe Arcayan and his tanods who were earlier accused by a public school teacher of illegally raiding his farm.

Regional Trial Court Judge Silvestre Maamo has given Arcayan, his chief tanod Romeo Pador, tanods Alberto Alivio, Carmelo Revales, Roberto Alimorin, Winelo Arcayan, Christopher Alivio and Bienvenido Arcayan, who were named respondents of the petition filed by couple Nerio and Soledad Pador, to make a return of the writ within 72 hours upon receipt of the order.

The Writ of Amparo, which was formally served yesterday afternoon by the court sheriff, was the first to be issued by the RTC since the remedy was conceived in September 2007.

The complainants’ lawyer, Ramesis Villagonzalo, filed the petition for the issuance of the Writ of Amparo last Monday, claiming that his clients were harassed by the respondents.

The harassment allegedly started in the last week of February when Arcayan accused Nerio of growing marijuana in his farm. Arcayan and the rest of the respondents raided Pador’s farm but only found ampalaya plants.

However, instead of offering apologies, Arcayan allegedly sent a letter to the Pador couple inviting them to see him.

Villagonzalo said he advised his clients not to accept the invitation. The couple then sent a reply letter but Arcayan refused to receive it.

Villagonzalo said his clients feared of further harassment, prompting them to file the petition to ask the court for protection.  — Fred P. Languido/LPM