Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro cleared as election complaint gets dismissed
A disqualification case against Cebu Governor Pamela 'Pam' Baricuatro has been dismissed by the Comelec First Division. The ruling allows the governor to shift focus back to governance and recovery efforts. The decision came after procedural failures by the complainant, Katrina Kaye Kowalik, a former City Legal Officer of Cebu City.
Kowalik had filed the complaint, accusing Baricuatro of violating Sections 3 and 5 of Republic Act 9006, also known as the Fair Election Act. She also cited alleged breaches of Comelec Resolutions 11086 and 11117. The basis of her petition was a social media post claiming Baricuatro led the gubernatorial race with 82% of the votes.
With the case now closed, Governor Baricuatro can concentrate on her administrative duties without legal distractions. The ruling also sets a precedent on the strict adherence to procedural rules in election-related complaints. Kowalik’s failure to follow filing requirements led directly to the petition’s rejection.
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