An administrative complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas against Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and Republic Act No. 7610 or the Local Government Code of 1991.  

The complaint filed on December 1, 2025 by Byron Garcia, brother of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, stems from Baricuatro’s alleged act of “publicly issuing false statements, with manifest malice and intent to mislead the electorate, by claiming that the Provincial Government of Cebu had already purchased two (2) sea ambulances.”  

According to Garcia’s affidavit, on or about October 7, 2025, Baricuatro published a statement on her verified personal Facebook account “falsely asserting that the Provincial Government of Cebu had already purchased - and presently owned - a sea ambulance.”

Garcia pointed out that on the same date, or shortly thereafter, the official Facebook page of the Provincial Government of Cebu posted the same representation, further “reinforcing the false claim that the province had completed the purchase and ownership of the sea ambulance.”  

The complainant cited that the posts were “widely circulated, shared, and reacted to by the public, thereby creating the clear impression that the Provincial Government had successfully procured said equipment.”  

However, he pointed out that during a session of the Provincial Board on October 26, 2025 held in relation to the 2026 Budget, it was “revealed that the sea ambulance was never purchased nor owned by the Provincial Government. Instead, it was merely lent or borrowed for temporary use.”  

“After said session, Baricuatro herself acknowledged that the sea ambulance was not owned by the province, contradicting her earlier public statements,” Garcia said.  

The complainant said further that “on November 29, 2025, Baricuatro again posted on her personal Facebook page in what appeared to be a belated attempt to correct her earlier false claims. Rather than clarify, this subsequent post only underscored thefalsity of her previous assertions and her intent to mislead the people of Cebu.”  

Garcia asked the Ombudsman to look into the matter and impose sanctions against Baricuatro.  

“I respectfully request that the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the President take cognizance of this Complaint, conduct the appropriate administrative investigation and proceedings, and impose the proper penalties,” Garcia said further.  

Baricuatro, on the Facebook page with the handle “Pam Baricuatro,” said that the sea ambulance is a prototype.  

“To those detractors making a big fuss about the sea ambulance: let me be clear—this is a PROTOTYPE, a test model from a trusted supplier, being tested while we await clearance from the President to proceed. It is not deception; it is a measured step to save lives faster, especially for our island communities,” Baricuatro said.  

“Cebu is an island province, and in calamities our sea options must be considered when land routes are unusable. Timely aid at sea has been a gap and this initiative aims to close it—faster triage, quicker transport, real help where it’s needed most,” she added.  

“We are committed to due process, transparency, and accountability. Expect clear updates, and answers to your questions. If this prototype saves even one mother in labor, one fisherman at sea, or one child in distress, it has served its purpose,” the governor said further.

“We will not bow to cynicism. We will stay accountable,” Baricuatro said.