Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover is confronting a significant legal challenge after 12 separate complaints for cyberlibel were filed against him in Marawi City. The councilor has characterized the legal actions as a clear case of harassment and a deeply troubling attempt to intimidate him.
A Christmas Season Legal Onslaught
The complaints were formally lodged during the Christmas season, a timing that has amplified Alcover's concerns. He believes the lawsuits are a strategic move designed to weaken his role as a fiscalizer, or government watchdog, within Cebu City Hall. The objective, according to Alcover, is to silence his scrutiny of city operations.
The plaintiff in all 12 cases is businessman Ibrahim Ala Dianalan Jr., also known as Mark Dianalan. Dianalan operates the popular Colon Night Market in Cebu through the Participative Association of Sugbo Vendors Incorporated (PASVI).
Allegations of Malicious Social Media Campaign
The core of the cyberlibel complaints centers on a series of posts made from Alcover's Facebook accounts, "Jun Alcover" and "Jun Amigo," during September and October 2025. Dianalan alleges that the councilor repeatedly published false, malicious, and defamatory statements aimed at destroying his reputation and business integrity.
The controversial posts criticized the operation of the Colon Night Market. Councilor Alcover claimed the market continued to operate without proper authorization from the GASA Board and the Cebu City Council. Furthermore, Dianalan states that Alcover labeled him as part of a "syndicate" and a "buaya" (crocodile)—a common local term for a corrupt individual.
The complaint also asserts that Alcover encouraged vendors at the night market not to pay for their stalls, declaring the entire operation illegal.
Councilor's Firm Rebuttal and Defense
Councilor Jun Alcover has categorically and vehemently denied all allegations. He stresses that the Colon Night Market secured all necessary permits for its operation. This includes a special permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) and official authorization from the Cebu City Council via Resolution No. 17-0588-2025.
Alcover further clarified that the GASA Board holds no regulatory oversight over the night market, a position confirmed by the Cebu City Legal Office in its Opinion No. 2025-241-MCK.
"The posts are not only false but also malicious. It is impossible that I was unaware of the City Council's approval because I was there and actively participated in the session that authorized the night market's operation," Alcover stated.
He describes the 12 complaints as part of a broader harassment plan to frighten government officials from diligently performing their oversight and governance duties. Alcover has assured his constituents that he will continue his scrutiny of city operations and his advocacy for governmental transparency, despite the legal pressure.
The complaints seek to prosecute Alcover under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 for the eight key Facebook posts identified as damaging to Dianalan's reputation. The case highlights the growing intersection of social media, political commentary, and cyber libel laws in the Philippines.
