12 cyberlibel filed vs Alcover junked

Local

CEBU City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. has been cleared of all 12 cyberlibel complaints filed against him over his social media posts opposing the Colon Street Night Market.

This after prosecutors found “insufficient evidence” to support the charges.

In a resolution dated Feb. 19, 2026, the Office of the City Prosecutor in Marawi City dismissed both sets of complaints, covering four and eight counts of cyberlibel, filed by businessman Ibrahim “Mark” Ala Dianalan Jr.

Prosecutors said the complainant failed to establish a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction, warranting the dismissal of all charges against Alcover.

The cases were filed under Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Articles 353 and 355 of the Revised Penal Code, which define and penalize libel.

The complaints stemmed from statements posted online by Alcover questioning the legality and implementation of the Colon Street Night Market, a project operated by a private group under agreement with the Cebu City Government.

Dianalan, who identified himself as the organizer of the night market and chairperson of the Participative Association of Sugbo Vendors Inc., accused the councilor of making defamatory statements that allegedly damaged his reputation and credibility as a businessman.

He said he had secured the necessary permits and approvals, including a resolution from the Cebu City Council authorizing the temporary closure of Colon Street for the night market’s operations.

Alcover, for his part, had maintained that his statements were part of his duty as a legislator and member of the minority bloc.

He raised concerns over what he described as procedural lapses in the project’s approval.

He earlier questioned the absence of clearance from the General Affairs and Support Services Board and claimed that the agreement had not undergone proper deliberation by the City Council.

The councilor also described the filing of the cases in Marawi City, despite the controversy being centered in Cebu, as “harassment.”

He suggested that the complaints were intended to pressure or silence him and other officials critical of the project.

Dianalan filed a total of 12 counts of cyberlibel, citing posts allegedly made through Facebook accounts “Jun Alcover” and “Jun Amigo.”

The content had been preserved by the Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit 7 as part of the complaints.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, who was earlier linked by Alcover to the controversy, denied any involvement in the filing of the cases, saying he was not the complainant.

The dismissal marks the latest development in a dispute over the Colon Street Night Market, which has also reached the Office of the Ombudsman.

In October 2025, Alcover filed criminal and administrative complaints against Archival and other city officials, including City Treasurer Emma Villarete and City Administrator Albert Tan, alleging irregularities in the operation of the night market.

The councilor accused the city government of allowing a private entity to manage and profit from a public space without proper authorization.(TGP)