CEBU CITY – What looked like a simple birthday greeting has sparked a legal row between Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and Byron Garcia, the brother of the province's former governor.

He filed an administrative complaint after a photo of Baricuatro surfaced online showing her wearing a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) uniform.

Garcia, brother of former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who lost to Baricuatro in the May elections, filed the complaint on Nov. 21 before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor.

Byron accused Baricuatro of violating Article 179 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes the illegal use of uniforms and insignia of government authorities.

He said Baricuatro's Facebook post on Nov. 10 showed her wearing SWAT patches, badges, and the Cebu Police Provincial Office emblem.

Byron said these markings are regulated and issued only to active personnel of the Philippine National Police, especially those in SWAT units.

“By publicly wearing and posting herself in a PNP SWAT uniform, the respondent undermines the identity and authority of actual police personnel and creates the false impression that she has police powers or affiliation,” Byron said.

The act could mislead the public, cause confusion, and show disregard for regulated police symbols that represent lawful authority, he alleged.

Baricuatro denied any wrongdoing. She said what she posted was not an actual photo but was an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image.

She said the image was a birthday greeting created by the CPPO, adding that the SWAT uniform was not authentic.

“No endorsement or official act was intended; it was a public acknowledgment of CPPO’s birthday greetings,” she said.

Baricuatro added the filing of the complaint was part of propaganda launched to undermine her leadership.