Groups slam Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s conviction as ‘miscarriage of justice’

MANILA, Philippines – Local and international groups condemned the conviction of 26-year-old community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio for terrorism financing, saying it sends a “chilling message” to media, activists, and even ordinary people in the Philippines.

Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil, who have been in jail for nearly six years, were acquitted in a separate case involving the illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Following the terrorism financing conviction, they face another 12 to 18 years in prison.

Committee to Protect Journalists Asia-Pacific director Beh Lih Yi finds the court ruling “absurd” and said that the promises made by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold press freedom are “nothing but empty talk.”

“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,” she said on Thursday.

Altermidya, meanwhile, described the conviction as a “miscarriage of justice,” as it expressed outrage over what it called glaring evidence of fabricated charges against Cumpio and Domequil.

“It deepens the climate of impunity in the country and sends a chilling message to journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens that free expression comes at a heavy cost,” Altermidya said.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Cumpio’s conviction “represents a devastating failure on the part of the Philippine justice system and the authorities’ blatant disregard for press freedom.” The group also pointed out that three of its investigations and pieces of evidence presented in court clearly showed how the case against Cumpio was fabricated.

“The Philippines should serve as an international example of protecting media freedom — not a perpetrator that red-tags, prosecutes, and imprisons journalists simply for doing their work,” RSF added. RSF also renewed its call for President Marcos to immediately release Cumpio.

Fight continues

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the ruling was a “partial victory, and a promise to keep fighting.”

The NUJP said 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 reprisal or retribution.”

Women’s rights group Gabriela also vowed to continue supporting Cumpio and Domequil as they appeal the verdict.

“We do not accept this verdict. We will continue to rally behind Frenchie and Maye as they appeal this injustice. History will eventually absolve them, while those who planted the evidence and those who penned this injustice will be held to account by the people,” said Gabriela deputy secretary Cora Agovida.

Cumpio was Eastern Vista’s executive director, and for most of her career, she was known for covering issues such as the killing of farmers and land-grabbing in Leyte’s neighboring provinces.

Meanwhile, Domequil was a member of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines and had fought for the rights of farmers and peasant workers in Eastern Visayas. – with reports from John Sitchon/Rappler.com