A Filipino journalist has been convicted of financing terrorism and sentenced to 12 to 18 years in prison, a verdict that press freedom groups condemn as a travesty of justice aimed at silencing critical reporting. Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a 26-year-old community journalist and radio broadcaster, was found guilty by the Tacloban regional court on Thursday, after spending nearly six years in a crowded provincial prison without trial. She was acquitted of charges related to illegal possession of firearms and explosives but convicted on a terrorism financing charge, with her former roommate Marielle Domequil receiving the same sentence.
Cumpio was arrested in February 2020 when Philippine troops raided her boarding house in the middle of the night, allegedly finding a hand grenade, firearm, and communist flag. Rights groups have consistently argued that the charges were fabricated and that Cumpio was red-tagged—labeled a subversive—for her reporting, which criticized police and military abuses in the Eastern Visayas region. Prior to her arrest, she reported for news site Eastern Vista and hosted a show on Aksyon Radyo-Tacloban, focusing on issues affecting poor communities.
The practice of red-tagging, where the government links critics to a long-running communist insurgency to silence them, intensified under former President Rodrigo Duterte and has continued under his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Observers say this case is part of a broader pattern of targeting journalists and activists, with Cumpio being the first journalist in the Philippines charged with financing terrorism. The anti-terror law has been criticized as a tool to suppress dissent, with her lawyer, Josa Deinla, stating it is used as a “ready and convenient weapon against dissenters.”
Reactions from international press freedom organizations have been swift and condemnatory. Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, called the verdict “absurd” and said it shows President Marcos’s pledges to uphold press freedom are “empty talk.” Reporters Without Borders described the ruling as demonstrating a “blatant disregard for press freedom,” while the International Association of Women in Radio and Television labeled it a “blatant act of state-sponsored silencing.” A coalition of over 250 journalists and media groups had previously called for her release, denouncing the charges as trumped up.
Legal and human rights concerns are central to this case. The UN special rapporteur Irene Khan had earlier stated that the charges appeared to be “in retaliation for her work as a journalist.” The Clooney Foundation for Justice raised issues about the lengthy detention, citing repeated postponements. Cumpio’s legal team plans to file an appeal, with lawyer Norberto Robel indicating there is still a legal remedy and pending application for bail. Outside the courthouse, riot police blocked supporters, including Cumpio’s mother, Lala, who broke down in tears upon hearing the verdict.
The conviction has significant implications for community journalism in the Philippines. Cumpio’s work highlighted the struggles of rural and impoverished communities, and her sentencing sends a chilling message that documenting such issues can lead to severe punishment. Community journalists are particularly vulnerable, as they often operate in areas controlled by political dynasties and face direct threats. The Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for reporters, with a history of violence against media workers, including the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
Looking ahead, the appeal process will be closely monitored by human rights advocates and the international community. This case is part of the “Tacloban five,” referring to Cumpio, Domequil, and three others whose cases are pending. The outcome may influence the treatment of other journalists facing similar charges and could impact the state of press freedom under the Marcos administration. As press freedom groups continue to advocate for her release, the verdict underscores the ongoing challenges in protecting journalists who dare to speak truth to power in the Philippines.
