Alcover arrested for cyberlibel, posts bail

CEBU, Philippines — Former congressman Pastor Alcover, Jr. was arrested for cyberlibel but was able to post bail the day after on Friday, March 4, 2022.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-7 Provincial Field Unit served the warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court at Alcover’s house in Lahug, Cebu City on Thursday, March 3.

CIDG Provincial Unit chief, Major Mark Lester Eteroza, said Alcover posted a P20,000 bail for the two counts of cyberlibel charge.

"Ngayon po, nandun sya sa court para mag-post ng bail… two counts po yun, P10,000 each, so P20,000 lang naman po yung bail," Alcover said yesterday.

Surprised

In an interview, Alcover said he was surprised by the arrest and the charges.

"Ang nahitabo ani, nakurat ko kay na-warrant ko then sa warrant way nakabutang nga petitioner, people of the Philippines ra man diretso," Alcover said.

It was only after he posted bail that he learned the complaint was filed by former Cebu City Administrator Floro Casas.

He said the complaint may have stemmed from a conflict between them during the administration of the late Mayor Edgardo Labella, as well as from his social media posts.

"Pero na-settle man to namo unta… wala ko nag-expect nga naay kaso ma-file… wala ko ga-expect naay cyberlibel," Alcover said.

It was in February 2020 when Casas sued Alcover for accusing him of refusing to release the funds for the sweatshirts of 2,500 motorcycle-for-hire drivers so he could allegedly use the money in the 2022 elections.

Alcover allegedly made the accusation in his radio program, which was also streamed live on Facebook.

Elections

Alcover is running for councilor for the city’s North District in the May polls under the slate of Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama assured he will not abandon his candidate and his trust in Alcover remains.

"We will be assisting him," Rama said.

He could not say, as of this writing, if the complaint was politically motivated as he does not know the details of the case.

"Tan-awon sa nako’g kinsay ga-file kay wa ko kibaw unsa ang kaso… naay ngan sa kaso but I need to know what really had happened," Rama said.

Alcover said he will be consulting with his lawyer on their next move, including the possibility of filing counter-charges against Casas. – Decemay T. Padilla, JMO (FREEMAN)