photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Local and international media groups condemned the ruling on community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights activist Marielle Domequil, members of the group known as the Tacloban 5, who were convicted of financing terrorism on Thursday, January 22, by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45.
The court found Cumpio and Domequil guilty under Republic Act No. 10168, also known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, and sentenced them to indeterminate prison terms of 12 to 18 years.
They were, however, acquitted of charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, which stemmed from a police and military raid in February 2020, after the court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Cumpio, a former executive director of the community media outlet Eastern Vista, was arrested on February 7, 2020, along with four other human rights advocates, collectively referred to as the “Tacloban 5,” during multiple police operations in Tacloban City. Cumpio first faced charges for the alleged illegal possession of a firearm and hand grenade found in her bed.
Media organizations, press freedom advocates, and human rights groups have consistently questioned the legitimacy of the charges, pointing to alleged irregularities in the search and seizure, as well as Cumpio’s journalistic work, which was critical of government policies.
“Cumpio’s case has been emblematic of the challenged state of press freedom, and more broadly of freedom of speech and expression, in the Philippines, and her conviction does not bode well for the media’s ability to report on the issues that Frenchie did without fear of reprisal and retribution,” said the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
“The conviction of Frenchie Mae Cumpio on baseless charges after almost six years in detention is a highly alarming violation of human rights, a failure of the justice system to protect and uphold press freedom, and a clear effort to silence critical, independent journalism. The Marcos administration must act now to release Cumpio immediately, and stop the targeting and criminalisation of journalists for their work. The IFJ stands in solidarity with the Filipino media community in their fight for justice for Cumpio and the Tacloban 5,” said the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Moreover, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also condemned the guilty verdict and the harsh 12- to 18-year prison sentence, calling on authorities to immediately release Cumpio and stop targeting the media.
“This absurd verdict shows that the various pledges made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold press freedom are nothing but empty talk,” said CPJ Asia-Pacific director Beh Lih Yi. “Although the journalist was cleared on the charge of illegal possession of firearms, the ruling underscores the lengths that Philippine authorities are willing to go to silence critical reporting. The Philippines must free Frenchie Mae Cumpio without conditions and stop criminalizing journalists.”
According to the court, in March 2019, the accused allegedly provided financial assistance and ammunition to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Catbalogan City.
Local alternative media news network Altermidya also denounced the guilty ruling in the case involving Cumpio and Domequil, expressing strong opposition to the court’s decision
“We are outraged by the clear injustice of the court decision amid glaring evidence that the charges against Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Marielle Domequil, and the rest of the Tacloban 5 are all fabricated,” Altermidya asserted.
Meanwhile, the defense said it would seek reconsideration and pursue legal remedies, including filing a motion to allow the accused to post bail pending appeal.
Defense counsel Atty. Julianne Agpalo said the legal team would continue to challenge the ruling and seek the immediate release of Cumpio and Domequil.
“We will not stop here. We will continue to fight. One, for the immediate release of Frenchie Cumpio and Marielle Domequil na sana ma-grant ang ifa-file nating motion for them to be allowed to post bail pending their appeal. Another one is we will continue to question the decision itself in convicting both,” Atty. Agpalo said.
Following the promulgation of the decision, Cumpio and Domequil were returned to the Tacloban City Jail, where Cumpio has remained detained since her arrest in 2020.
Article by Sarah Lorica & Alrey Lacaba