Philippines: Frenchie Mae Cumpio found guilty of terrorism financing

Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been found guilty of financing terrorism and sentenced to at least 12 years in prison, after spending nearly six years behind bars in pre-trial detention. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the National Union of the Philippines (NUJP), strongly condemn Cumpio's draconian conviction on baseless charges, calling for immediate reform to stop the suppression of the media and human rights advocates under 'anti-terror' legislation in the Philippines.

protesters advocate for the immediate release of "Tacloban 5" journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights defender Marielle Domequil in front of the Department of Justice in Manila on Wednesday, January 21. Credit: X.

Cumpio was convicted by Tacloban City's Regional Trial Court Branch 45 on January 22, alongside her former roommate and human rights activist Marielle Domequil. Judge Georgina Uy Perez found Cumpio and Domequil guilty of financing terrorism 'beyond reasonable doubt', but acquitted separate charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. Both face a maximum of 18 years in prison, with a minimum sentence of 12 years without parole.

Cumpio, the executive director of the Eastern Vista news website and a news anchor with Aksyon Radyo Tacloban radio, was arrested on February 7, 2020, alongside four other human rights activists known as the 'Tacloban 5', in a series of police raids in Tacloban City. Cumpio first faced charges for the illegal possession of a firearm and hand grenade allegedly found in her bed, before a terrorism financing charge was added more than a year later, carrying up to 40 years in prison.

On November 6, 2025, a further charge of murder against Cumpio was dismissed after judges ruled she was mistakenly identified as the individual the complaint was addressed to. On October 29, the Court of Appeals also nullified a lower court-mandated fine in the 'anti-terror' case, with the court stating it found no evidence to link Cumpio and Domequil to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or its military arm, the New People's Army (NPA).

Prior to her arrest, Cumpio would frequently cover alleged abuses of power perpetrated by military forces on Eastern Vista, a news site affiliated with Altermidya, an independent network of media outlets that support coverage of marginalised and underrepresented communities in the Philippines. Cumpio and her colleagues were subject to 'red-tagging', where journalists, activists, union leaders, and human rights defenders are labelled as connected to armed communist insurgent groups, often accompanied by threats, harassment, or attacks.

Human rights watchdogs, press freedom bodies, and trade unions globally, including the IFJ and NUJP, have continually condemned Cumpio's ongoing detention, with UN special rapporteur Irene Khan stating the charges appeared to be "in retaliation for her work as a journalist".

Cumpio testified in the Tacloban Regional Court on November 11, 2024, where she denied all charges. A member of the journalist's legal team, Josa Deinla of the National Union of People's Lawyers, said the defence planned to file a motion of reconsideration and an appeal for bail following the verdict.

NUJP said:"[Frenchie Mae 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."

IFJ said:"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."