Tacloban Court Finds Journalist and Humanitarian Worker Guilty of Terrorism Financing
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights has issued a strong condemnation of the guilty verdict delivered by the Tacloban Regional Trial Court against journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and humanitarian worker Marielle Domequil. The court found both individuals guilty of terrorism financing charges, extending what the organization describes as a pattern of government persecution against the two.
Five Years of Legal Battles and Alleged Persecution
According to the human rights organization, Cumpio and Domequil have faced what they characterize as systematic harassment and intimidation over several years. The group claims the two have been subjected to red-tagging, an illegal raid, planting of evidence, and trumped-up charges that kept them detained for five years without trial. The recent conviction threatens them with up to twelve years of imprisonment.
The court's decision comes despite previous charges being dismissed against the two individuals. In November 2025, murder charges filed against Cumpio and Domequil were junked for lack of evidence. The Tacloban RTC also dismissed charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, with the human rights group suggesting that evidence in that case appeared fabricated.
Working with Marginalized Communities in Eastern Visayas
Cumpio and Domequil have been working with peasant communities in Eastern Visayas, one of the Philippines' poorest regions. The human rights organization argues that their persecution stems from the government's tendency to conflate independent and critical voices with armed insurgency, which is then further linked to terrorism.
The group contends that in its fight against insurgency, the government has been undermining basic freedoms and democratic principles. They claim that legitimate community work has been mischaracterized as support for armed groups, creating a dangerous precedent for activists and civil society workers nationwide.
Questionable Evidence and Witness Credibility
The human rights organization has raised serious concerns about the evidence presented in the terrorism financing case. They note that Cumpio and Domequil have credibly claimed that cash found during the raid came from legitimate fundraising activities common among community journalists.
Furthermore, the group questions the credibility of witnesses in the case, suggesting they may be rebel returnees who are actually captives or on military payroll. The ruling establishes what they consider a dangerous precedent for social movement activists and civil society personnel who might face similar terrorism financing charges in the future.
Continuation of Previous Administration's Policies
The human rights organization asserts that the persecution of journalists, humanitarian workers, and community organizers that began under the Rodrigo Duterte administration is being continued under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regime. Despite pressure from local and international journalism and human rights communities to free Cumpio and Domequil, the current administration has reportedly intensified its legal actions against them.
Demands for Justice and Policy Changes
The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights has issued several demands in response to the court ruling:
- Immediate reversal of the guilty verdict against Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil
- Unconditional freedom for both individuals
- Repeal of the country's Anti-Terrorism Law, which they claim is being weaponized against independent voices
- Abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
- Concrete actions from the Marcos Jr. administration to protect human rights
The organization emphasizes that this case represents a critical test for press freedom and human rights protections in the Philippines, with implications for journalists and humanitarian workers across the nation.
