The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro of cyberlibel charges, granting her petition for review in a resolution dated April 20, 2026. This overturns the earlier ruling by the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor that found probable cause to indict the governor.
Background of the Case
The complaint was filed by Byron Garcia, former provincial jail warden and brother of former Governor Gwen Garcia. It stemmed from comments Baricuatro made on social media in 2023 on the profile of the late Dr. Rowena Burden. The post, written in Cebuano on August 29, 2023, was made before Baricuatro assumed the governorship and before she announced her candidacy.
Arguments and DOJ Ruling
Garcia alleged the comments were defamatory and violated the Cyberlibel Law. Baricuatro argued her comments were fair and related to discussions about a government facility, adding that she had no intent to ruin the individual described. The DOJ emphasized that the crucial element of identifiability was missing. “Even if the language is offensive, it is not sufficient to sustain a charge of libel absent a clear and direct reference to a particular individual,” the DOJ stated.
The DOJ ordered the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office to withdraw the information filed in the Regional Trial Court, effectively ending the case.
