CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Cebu City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover has won another battle in life—this time in the courts—after prosecutors in Marawi City dismissed all 12 counts of cyber-libel filed against him there.
“Today, we welcome the dismissal of the 12 counts of cyber-libel charges filed against me in Marawi City by a certain Mark Dianalan, a registered voter of Lapu-lapu City who was authorized by Mayor Nestor Archival to manage an ‘Illegal Night Market.’” The ruling clearly shows that there was no sufficient basis to establish a prima facie case with a reasonable certainty of conviction,” Alcover said in a statement sent to the media yesterday.
The ruling comes just months after Alcover also overcame Stage 1 prostate cancer, underscoring his resilience both in public service and personal health.
The cyber-libel complaints were filed by businessman Ibrahim Ala Dianalan Jr., also known as “Mark Dianalan,” who organized the Colon Night Market in Cebu City.
“This case may have been filed to silence us, but today it ends as a clear affirmation that we stand on solid ground,” Alcover added.
Dianalan accused Alcover of posting defamatory statements through Facebook accounts “Jun Alcover” and “Jun Amigo,” alleging that the councilor maligned him and the Night Market operations in several posts between September and October 2025.
The posts described the Night Market as “illegal,” referred to Dianalan as part of a “syndicate,” and questioned the collection of vendor fees. Witnesses claimed the accounts belonged to Alcover, citing livestreams and videos where he appeared.
After a comprehensive review, prosecutors ruled that the evidence was insufficient to establish a prima facie case with reasonable certainty of conviction.
The Joint Resolution, signed on February 19, 2026 by Prosecution Attorney Sittie Hadyah D. Sarip and approved by City Prosecutor Omar M. Macapaar, pointed out several critical shortcomings.
Screenshots and videos submitted by the complainant were unauthenticated and unreliable, lacking certification from Facebook/Meta, metadata, or forensic verification.
While preservation affidavits proved the integrity of the digital copies, they did not establish authorship or account ownership.
The resolution also noted that neither the “Jun Alcover” nor “Jun Amigo” accounts contained personal photographs of the respondent in their profile or cover photos, weakening claims of ownership.
Videos where Alcover appeared were not conclusive proof that he uploaded them or controlled the accounts, since videos can be posted by others.
Prosecutors further stressed that some of the posts fell under the doctrine of fair comment on matters of public interest, a qualifiedly privileged communication, and therefore did not constitute actionable libel. Identification was not clearly established in all instances, and malice was not proven.
In sum, suspicion and inference could not substitute for competent proof, causing the prosecution to dismiss all 12 counts of cyber-libel charges.
Alcover welcomed the ruling, saying it affirmed that truth and facts prevail over unfounded accusations, and that the outcome was not only a personal vindication but also a victory for transparency, accountability, and the right to speak on matters of public concern without fear or intimidation.
“This outcome affirms what we have maintained from the very beginning—that truth and facts will always prevail over unfounded accusations. We see this not only as a personal vindication but as a victory for transparency, accountability, and the right to speak on matters of public concern without fear or intimidation,” said Alcover.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to serve the people of Cebu City and to continue exposing irregularities whenever necessary, always guided by truth and public interest,” added the councilor.
| Written by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/RAE
