Baricuatro seeks ‘outright’dismissal of poll protest

After given a five-day period to reply before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), incoming Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro has called for the outright dismissal of the election protest filed against her by outgoing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia.

- - Jonnavie Villa/JG

She described the protest as “insufficient in form and substance.”

In a 56-page answer submitted on June 16, Baricuatro’s legal team headed by Atty. Alberto “Al” Agra detailed the series of lapses in Garcia’s election protest, which challenged the outcome of the May 2025 gubernatorial race in Cebu.

Baricuatro's legal team maintained that Garcia’s protest did not present concrete proof or detailed allegations that warrant a full-blown trial. The team added that the complaint lacked specificity, relying on generalized accusations and it failed to cite valid grounds for judicial scrutiny.

“The election protest is described as a nuisance suit and is but a commentary and an op-ed page of a tabloid,” the statement read from Baricuatro’s legal counsel.

Garcia, who garnered 765,051 votes, lost to Baricuatro by a significant margin of 342,873 votes.