Calls for release of detained Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio intensify as trial nears

The upcoming trial of Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, scheduled for 11 November, has ignited calls from domestic and international media and human rights organisations demanding her immediate release. Cumpio, who has been detained since February 2020, could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted on charges that press freedom advocates say are politically motivated and aimed at silencing critical journalism.

Media groups in the Philippines, alongside international organisations such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Freedom Now, have criticised the charges against Cumpio, including “financing of terrorism” and “illegal possession of firearms.”

The case has drawn significant attention as it exemplifies what advocates claim is the Philippine government’s use of judicial processes to target journalists and human rights defenders. RSF and other groups contend that the charges are fabricated, pointing to alleged irregularities in the evidence used against Cumpio.

Earlier this year, in February, prominent Philippine media groups addressed a joint letter to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to secure the release of Cumpio and other detained activists.

The letter was signed by leaders from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, and the Altermidya network, each voicing their concerns about the risks facing Filipino journalists. In the letter, the groups called for the end of what they described as an unjust detention and prolonged legal process.

“Their continued detention and the prolonged litigation process underscore the urgency for action,” the letter read, adding, “We trust that the DOJ will take swift and just action under your leadership to review and hopefully dismiss the charges against Ms. Cumpio, Ms. Domequil, and Mr. Abinguna.”

Cumpio, an investigative journalist and director of Eastern Vista, a news site affiliated with the AlterMidya network, has reported extensively on military abuses and issues affecting marginalised communities in the country’s Eastern Visayas region.

Her arrest followed a raid on her residence, during which authorities claimed to have discovered firearms and explosives. Human rights groups argue that this evidence was fabricated, pointing out that Cumpio’s work had increasingly come under scrutiny due to its critical stance on military and police conduct.

“Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who reported on abuses committed by the military, is obviously targeted by a strategy that seeks to deter all Filipino journalists from investigating taboo topics. As Cumpio’s landmark trial for alleged ‘terrorism’ approaches, we call on the Ministry of Justice to drop all charges against her without delay,” said Cédric Alviani, RSF’s Asia-Pacific Bureau Director.

The case has highlighted a worrying trend of “red-tagging” in the Philippines, a practice in which journalists, activists, and human rights defenders are labelled as subversives or terrorists for covering sensitive issues.

The media groups behind the joint letter reiterated the concerns expressed by United Nations Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan, who had previously called for a review of Cumpio’s case and a dismissal of charges should the evidence prove lacking.

The letter from Philippine media groups also referenced a commitment expressed by the DOJ to “only file cases with a reasonable certainty of conviction,” as outlined in recent DOJ memoranda.

The signatories underscored the importance of adhering to this standard, particularly in cases that involve members of the press, calling on the DOJ to conduct an “impartial and thorough investigation” into the weaponisation of laws that, they argued, are being misused to stifle independent journalism.

International rights group Freedom Now echoed these calls in a recent statement, urging the Philippine government to uphold its obligations under international human rights law by ensuring a fair and prompt trial for Cumpio and her co-defendants.

“We urge the authorities to end its prosecution of the Tacloban 5 and release Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna immediately,” the statement read, referring to Cumpio and her co-defendants, who have become known as the Tacloban 5 among advocacy circles.

Since 1986, RSF has documented 204 killings of journalists in the Philippines, a statistic that underscores the country’s rank as one of the world’s most dangerous for media workers.

In RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the Philippines ranks 134th out of 180 countries, reflecting a challenging environment for journalists who report on sensitive or controversial topics.

Cumpio’s case is seen as a high-profile test of the Philippine government’s treatment of journalists, particularly those reporting on topics that implicate government or military forces.

As Cumpio’s trial approaches, advocates both in the Philippines and internationally are closely monitoring the proceedings, arguing that a fair trial and an acquittal would demonstrate the country’s commitment to democratic principles and press freedom.

Conversely, they warn that a conviction would likely have a chilling effect on independent journalism in the Philippines, discouraging other journalists from covering similar issues.

The DOJ’s handling of Cumpio’s case will be closely scrutinised by the signatories of the joint letter, as well as by international advocacy organisations that view her case as symptomatic of a wider trend of repression against critical voices.