GOV.-ELECT Pamela Baricuatro has formally responded to the disqualification case lodged against her before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), describing the petition as politically motivated and an attempt to delay her proclamation.
Through her legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, Baricuatro submitted an “Ad Cautelam Answer-Memorandum” to the Comelec Law Department on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This was confirmed in a press statement released Friday, June 20.
Topacio explained that the filing was made “as provided for in the pertinent rules of procedure of the said constitutional body.”
Baricuatro is set to have her inauguration on June 30.
The disqualification case was filed on May 13 by Cebu voter Katrina Kaye Kowalik, a former head of Sugbo News, the Cebu Provincial Capitol’s media arm under Garcia.
The petition cites violations of Republic Act 9006, or the Fair Election Act, and Comelec resolutions, with a prayer to suspend Baricuatro’s proclamation and/or oath-taking.
Meanwhile, in his statement, Topacio clarified that their filing was made ad cautelam or “as a precaution,” due to the “far and wide publicity” the disqualification case had already received.
He said the case appeared intended to “stymie” Baricuatro’s proclamation.
“To add context,” Topacio said, “the complaint was filed by one Katrina Kaye Kowalik, a registered voter in Cebu, but there are compelling reasons to believe that the same was at the behest and instigation of the Garcia camp.”
Topacio described the petition as containing “unproven and unprovable allegations and wild leaps of logic.” He added that “it will lead anyone reading it to conclude that it was for mere harassment rather than for legitimate or serious motivation.”
He said “the entire nation has been viewing with trepidation certain acts of the Comelec that have tended to negate the voice of the people’s in favor of dubious technicalities that have resulted in the nullification of the election of the people’s choice.”
“We are confident that the chair and members of the Comelec will prove true to their bounden duty of ascertaining what the voters really desire, instead of substituting their judgment therefore. The government must be reminded that the people are watching, ready to assert their sovereign will against any transgressions thereof,” Topacio said. / CDF