MANILA: Media groups on Tuesday renewed their call for the release of Tacloban-based community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, whose case would be finally promulgated on Thursday by a Tacloban City regional trial court after nearly six years in detention on charges of financing terrorism and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
“There is little more to be said beyond what the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the media community have been saying: Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio,” the NUJP said in a statement.
At a press briefing, National Union of People’s Lawyers secretary general Josa Deinla said that Cumpio and activist Marielle Domequil face two scenarios on Jan. 22.
“The remedy if they get convicted would be definitely to move for reconsideration first, or to appeal the decision to the higher court. That’s what we are poised to do should that happen,” Deinla said.
“The other scenario is what we are hoping for, of course, their exoneration or acquittal,” she added. “They could be acquitted for one, but get convicted for the other, or be acquitted for both charges.”
Media groups that constitute the Free Frenchie Mae coalition had said that the 26-year-old journalist could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
“The past five years have taken them away from their lives, their families, and from the important work they had been doing reporting on community issues, organising and defending people’s rights,” the NUJP said.
Alleged red links
Cumpio and Domequil, along with three other activists, were arrested by members of the police and military in February 2020 in Tacloban City. The military had claimed they were linked to militant groups allegedly acting as fronts for the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Before her arrest, Cumpio was the executive director of the community-based news outlet Eastern Vista. She had reported on abuses committed by the military and police in the Eastern Visayas region. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
