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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider DOJ upholds ruling dismissing cyber libel complaint vs Baricuatro

DOJ upholds ruling dismissing cyber libel complaint vs Baricuatro

Published Mar 18, 2026 09:27 pm
BARICUATRO (Cebu Province FB)
BARICUATRO (Cebu Province FB)
CEBU CITY – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has upheld a decision dismissing the cyber libel complaint filed by former Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia against her successor Gov. Pamela Baricuatro.
The Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Officer dismissed the complaints for “lack of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.”
The complaints stemmed from videos that appeared on Baricuatro’s TikTok account on Jan. 30 and Feb. 9, 2025.
Garcia alleged that in the videos, Baricuatro accused her of demanding excessive fees from businesses and improperly intervening in the affairs of cement manufacturer APO.
The former governor said the posts caused her “dishonor and discredit.”
In dismissing the complaint, the prosecutor’s office said Baricuatro’s statements were “fair comments on matters of public interest.”
Garcia appealed the dismissal of the complaints but the DOJ agreed with the ruling. It said there was “no cogent reason to disturb the findings” of the prosecutor’s office.
The DOJ emphasized that public officials are subject to public scrutiny and comment and that criticisms “when made without personal ill will or improper motive, do not amount to libel.”
Baricuatro welcomed the DOJ decision.
“Well, I’m just happy that the complaints were dismissed. It is really like that, when you did nothing wrong, justice will serve itself,” Baricuatro said in a press briefing on Wednesday, March 18.

Related Tags

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro Cyber libel DOJ Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia
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