Frenchie Mae Cumpio

'''Frenchie Mae Cumpio''' (born January 23, 1999) is a Filipino journalist. She was arrested in 2020 on terrorism related offences and for possessing a firearm. In 2025 the charges against her were beginning to be withdrawn. She is the focus of international attention as a journalist who has been convicted of financing terrorism. Some believe she has been arrested for political motives. On January 21, 2026, Cumpio and activist Marielle Domequil were found guilty of financing terrorism and received a sentence of up to 18 years of jail time.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|last=Gutierrez|first=David|title=Filipino Journalist Gets Prison in Case Seen as Attack on Free Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/world/asia/philippines-cumpio-journalist-prison.html|access-date=January 23, 2026|work=The New York Times|date=January 22, 2026|page=6|quote=To many, Ms. Cumpio’s case was a glaring example of 'red-tagging,' a practice by some Filipino authorities of linking their critics to the communist insurgency.}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|author=AFP|title=Philippine journalist found guilty of terror financing|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/philippine-journalist-found-guilty-of-terror-financing/ar-AA1UH7TI|access-date=January 22, 2026|website=MSN}}</ref> Cumpio had been a target of red-tagging prior to her arrest. Press freedom advocates have described her conviction as a "travesty of justice".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Gavin |date=2026-01-22 |title=Frenchie Mae Cumpio: Philippine journalist found guilty of financing terrorism |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7jjnl49nro |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Early life and career== Frenchie Mae Cumpio was born in 1999.<ref name=bday>{{Cite web |title=Happy Birthday to National Union of Journalists of the Philippines|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=625380309885093&id=100072393875472&set=a.193551129734682|access-date=September 22, 2025|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> Cumpio ran a website called Eastern Vista news and she was a news presenter at Aksyon Radyo Tacloban DYVL 819.<ref name="ctpj">{{Cite web|title=Frenchie Mae Cumpio|url=https://cpj.org/data/people/frenchie-mae-cumpio/ |access-date=September 22, 2025|website=Committee to Protect Journalists|language=en-US}}</ref> She is known for covering the killing of farmers in the Philippines and land-grabbing of agricultural lands in Eastern Visayas.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Sitchon |first=John |date=2026-01-22 |title=Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio convicted of terror financing |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/visayas/frenchie-mae-cumpio-convicted-terror-financing-january-2026/ |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=Rappler |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Arrest and imprisonment== On February 7, 2020, she was arrested with four others at the staff house of Eastern Vista in Tacloban, Leyte province.<ref name="RapplerEcarma">{{cite news|last=Ecarma|first=Lorraine|title=Tacloban journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio still hopeful a year after arrest|url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/tacloban-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-still-hopeful-year-after-arrest-2021/|access-date=January 23, 2026|work=Rappler|date=February 9, 2021}}</ref> She was charged with terrorism related offenses as alleged members of the New People's Army and possessing a firearm, but activists allege that this was planted by authorities.<ref name="RapplerEcarma"/><ref name="ctpj" /> The activists Alexander Abinguna, Marissa Cabaljao, Mira Legion and Marielle Domequil are called "the Tacloban 5".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=November 11, 2024|title=Detained Journalist Testifies in Landmark Trial|url=https://dailyguardian.com.ph/detained-journalist-testifies-in-landmark-trial/|access-date=September 22, 2025|website=Daily Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> They were voices of dissent at the time of President Rodrigo Duterte.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Calls grow for release of Philippine journalist, activists|url=https://www.ucanews.com/amp/calls-grow-for-release-of-philippine-journalist-activists/106962|access-date=September 22, 2025|website=UCA News|language=en}}</ref>

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in September 2020 and August 2021 a judge authorized arrest warrants against her despite the fact that she was already imprisoned. Her name was mispelt and the charges were made to her. The warrants were for her alleged involvement in a double murder of two soldiers in October 2019. At that time she was living seven hours away. She was said to have been identified by name by one of the alleged survivors of the attack.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=August 1, 2025|title=Exclusive RSF investigation: Filipino Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio now accused of double murder|url=https://rsf.org/en/exclusive-rsf-investigation-filipino-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-now-accused-double-murder|access-date=September 22, 2025|website=RSF|language=en}}</ref> The existence of these charges were not known until August 2025 when they were revealed by an "exclusive RSF investigation".<ref name=":1" />

Irene Khan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, visited her in jail on January 28, 2024. She said that the terrorism based charges should be set aside.<ref name=":0" /> Khan stated that the charges against Cumpio came after months of red-tagging, surveillance, intimidation, and harassment, and appears to have been done in retaliation to her coverage of alleged human rights abuses by the police and the military.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Philippines: Special Rapporteur calls for justice for journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/philippines-special-rapporteur-calls-justice-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=OHCHR |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025 she was still imprisoned and her release was demanded by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).<ref name=bday/> Her release was also named by Reporters Without Borders as one of that years' RWP priority campaigns, together with Sandra Muhoza of Burundi, Sevinj Vagifgizi of Azerbaijan, and Phạm Đoan Trang of Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2025|title=RSF kêu gọi trả tự do cho Phạm Đoan Trang & ba nhà báo khác trong chiến dịch 2025|url=https://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/chinh-tri/2025/03/09/rsf-keu-goi-tra-tu-do-do-nha-bao-doan-trang/|access-date=September 22, 2025|website=Tiếng Việt |language=vi}}</ref> Over 250 journalists and media organizations described the charges as "trumped up" and called on the Philippine President to release Cumpio.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-01-22 |title=Filipino journalist Frenchie Cumpio found guilty of terror financing in verdict rights groups call 'absurd' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/22/frenchie-mae-cumpio-philippine-journalist-found-guilty |access-date=2026-01-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In December 2022, the Manila Regional Trial Court ruled to forfeit ₱557,360 that Cumpio and Domequil said belonged to the Stand with Samar-Leyte campaign for farmers. In October 2025, the Court of Appeals reversed the forfeiture and reprimanded the Philippine Anti–Money Laundering Council for the "hasty labeling" of Cumpio and Domequil as terrorists. The Court of Appeals decision stated,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Villanueva|first=Raymund|date=November 6, 2025|title=Court of Appeals rebukes AMLC for 'hasty labeling' of journalist, church worker as 'terrorists'|url=https://kodao.org/court-of-appeals-rebukes-amlc-for-hasty-labeling-of-journalist-church-worker-as-terrorists/ |access-date=November 12, 2025|website=Kodao Productions|language=en}}</ref><blockquote>The Court cannot countenance the hasty labeling of human rights advocates as terrorists and the speedy confiscation of their funds and property in the name of national security. Measures to counter terrorism must not be done without due process, and at the expense of individuals, groups, and civil society organizations that are engaged in the promotion and defense of human rights.... To permit the forfeiture of property and funds without strict observance of the guidelines… would erode the public's trust in the state's capacity to manage threats to national security and address the causes of terrorism.</blockquote>On International Women's Day in 2024, women's media organization International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines called for Cumpio's release.

In October 2025, the Court of Appeals found no evidence to support the allegation that she was in contact with the Communist Party of the Philippines. They reversed a decision to freeze her bank account and an order to pay a fine for allegedly financing terrorists.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2025|title=Philippines: Murder case against Frenchie Mae Cumpio dismissed / IFJ |url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/newsletters/detail/philippines-murder-case-against-frenchie-mae-cumpio-dismissed/category/press-releases|access-date=November 16, 2025|website=International Federation of Journalists|language=en}}</ref> On November 7th, the Laoang Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 21 dismissed the charges of murder against her because the available evidence did not match her identity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 13, 2025|title=Philippines: Murder case against Frenchie Mae Cumpio dismissed / IFJ|url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/newsletters/detail/philippines-murder-case-against-frenchie-mae-cumpio-dismissed/category/press-releases|access-date=November 16, 2025|website=www.ifj.org|language=en}}</ref>

On January 21, 2026, Cumpio and activist Marielle Domequil were found guilty of financing terrorism and received a sentence of up to 18 years of jail time. Cumpio and Domequil were also acquitted on separate charges of possessing firearms and explosives.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Cumpio had been a target of red-tagging prior to her arrest. Press freedom advocates have described her conviction as a "travesty of justice".<ref name=":4" /> Press freedom and human rights advocates said that Cumpio's case follows a pattern of red-tagging journalists and activists, where activists and media workers who criticize the police and the military are labelled as communists or terrorists supporters. In the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, press freedom in the Philippines is classified as "difficult", with the country ranking 116th out of 180 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-01-23 |title=Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio Found Guilty of Terror Financing; But Cleared of Weapons Charge |url=https://cmfr-phil.org/press-freedom-protection/attacks-and-threats-against-the-media/journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-found-guilty-of-terror-financing-but-cleared-of-weapons-charge/ |access-date=2026-01-25 |website=Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility |language=en}}</ref>

Reporters without Borders said that the ruling displayed a "blatant disregard for press freedom". The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that Cumpio was the first journalist charged using the anti-terror financing law, saying that "This absurd verdict shows that the various pledges made by president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to uphold press freedom are nothing but empty talk." One of Cumpio's lawyers said that the anti-terror law was being used "as a ready and convenient weapon against dissenters in this society".<ref name=":5" />

The NUJP said 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". The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned the verdict, saying, "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."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-22 |title=Philippines: Frenchie Mae Cumpio found guilty of terrorism financing / IFJ |url=https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/article/philippines-frenchie-mae-cumpio-found-guilty-of-terrorism-financing |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=IFJ |language=en}}</ref>

In Congress, Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Elago protested the verdict, saying that there is "overwhelming evidence" showing that the case against Cumpio had been "manufactured". Sixteen embassies in the Philippines belonging to the Media Freedom Coalition also protested the verdict, stating, "Freedom of expression and the ability to report independently are essential pillars of democracy and must be safeguarded".<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Bernie |date=2026-01-25 |title=16 foreign embassies troubled by guilty verdict for journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio |url=https://www.pep.ph/news/local/190656/embassies-troubled-frenchie-mae-cumpio-found-guilty-a717-20260125-lfrm |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=PEP |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2026, United Nations experts—Irene Khan, Ben Saul, Gina Romero, Mary Lawlor, and Margaret Satterthwaite—said the conviction "troubling", adding that Cumpio and Domequil should be "free to fight for justice".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosete |first=Franck Dick |date=2026-03-06 |title=UN experts express alarm over conviction of Cumpio, Domequil |url=https://www.bulatlat.org/2026/03/06/un-experts-express-alarm-over-conviction-of-cumpio-domequil/ |access-date=2026-03-07 |website=Bulatlat |language=en-US}}</ref>

Media organizations have criticized Rodrigo Duterte's administration for cracking down on journalists and activists and have criticized the continued detention of journalists under the Bongbong Marcos government.<ref name=":6" /> Human rights group Karapatan said that "Under Marcos Jr., the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 have been aggressively enforced not to protect the public, but to persecute critics and suppress dissent".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morra |first=Diego |date=2026-01-24 |title=Evidence disprove Frenchie and Marielle's conviction |url=https://kodao.org/evidence-disprove-frenchie-and-marielles-conviction/ |access-date=2026-01-26 |website=Kodao Productions |language=en}}</ref> Human Rights Watch had previously criticized the Anti-Terrorism Act signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, describing the law as a "human rights disaster in the making" that opens the door to "arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president".<ref name=":7" />

==Recognition== Cumpio was nominated for the 2025 Reporters Without Borders Prize, Courage Prize category. The prize honors media workers who show "courage in the practice, defense or promotion of journalism in a hostile environment and despite threats to their freedom or safety."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Villanueva|first=Raymund|date=October 19, 2025|title=Jailed Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio nominated for international media award|url=https://kodao.org/jailed-filipino-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-nominated-for-international-media-award/|access-date=October 19, 2025|website=Kodao Productions|language=en}}</ref>

She was nominated for the 2026 UNESCO 2026 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize by Reporters Without Borders, Committee to Protect Journalists, and Free Press Unlimited (FPU), who cited Cumpio for her courage, defense of press freedom, and commitment to journalism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosete |first=Franck Dick |date=February 14, 2026 |title=Int'l groups nominate Frenchie Mae Cumpio for UNESCO's 2026 Guillermo Cano Prize |url=https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/02/14/intl-groups-nominate-frenchie-mae-cumpio-for-unescos-2026-guillermo-cano-prize/ |access-date=2026-02-18 |website=Bulatlat}}</ref>

In May 2026, Frenchie Mae Cumpio was honored with the 2026 Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award at the International Women's Media Foundation's Annual Courage in Journalism Awards. The Wallis Annenberg award honors journalists who are currently detained or imprisoned.<ref>{{cite web |title=IWMF Announces Winners of the 2026 Courage in Journalism Awards |url=https://www.iwmf.org/2026/05/iwmf-announces-winners-of-the-2026-courage-in-journalism-awards/ |website=International Women's Media Foundation |access-date=May 14, 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}{{Bagong Alyansang Makabayan}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Cumpio, Frenchie Mae}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Activism in the Philippines Category:Filipino radio presenters Category:Filipino women journalists Category:Political prisoners in the Philippines