Media orgs, advocates call on gov’t to release Frenchie Mae Cumpio, others

Media organizations and advocates on Monday trooped to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to call for the release of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who is set to testify for the first time before a Tacloban court since her detention in 2020.

The advocates held tarpaulins and posters calling for the release of Cumpio, human rights advocates Mariel Domequil and Alexander Philip Abinguna, as well as the junking of the Anti-Terror Law.

“Sana makinig ang National Prosecution Service (NPS) at ang DOJ. Drop the charges at palayain na ang tatlo pang nakakulong sa Tacloban 5,” AlterMidya chairperson Raymund Villanueva said in an ambush interview.

(I hope that the NPS and the DOJ will listen. Drop the charges and release the three of the Tacloban 5 who remain detained.)

Villanueva stressed that Cumpio has been detained for almost five years and is only testifying now on the “trumped-up charges” against her

“Pagpapakita ito nang kung gaano kabagal, gaano kalalim ang hustisya sa Pilipinas. Gawa-gawang kaso, inaabot ng ganito? Mga bata ‘yung kanilang inaresto who are wasting away their youth inside the prison. Hindi ito tama,” he said.

(This shows how slow the justice system in the Philippines is. Fabricated cases, taking this long? The children they arrested are wasting away their youth inside the prison. This is not right.)

Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna were arrested in a police raid in Tacloban City in February 2020 and are facing charges of terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.

During her visit to the country in January, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan expressed her concern to government officials over the length of Cumpio’s case.

In response, the DOJ said they informed Khan that the case is now undergoing trial.

For her part, Iris Zyn Domequil said her sister Mariel did not want to be forgotten as someone who has been defending human rights for a long time.

Iris Domequil, sister of rights advocate Mariel Domequil: Si ate Mariel, pinaglaban niya 'yung karapatan ng tao sa mahabang panahon... Ngayon po na siya po yung nakapiit, sila po yung nakapiit sa kulungan, panahon naman po na karapatan nila ‘yung ipaglaban natin." pic.twitter.com/uYslecN5xi

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) November 11, 2024

“Si Ate Mariel, pinaglaban niya 'yung karapatan ng tao sa mahabang panahon. Tapos ayaw niya na mawala lang yun lahat,” she said

(My sister, Mariel, fought for the rights of people for a long time. She doesn’t want that to be forgotten.)

“Ngayon po na siya po 'yung nakapiit, sila po 'yung nakapiit sa kulungan, panahon naman po na karapatan nila ‘yung ipaglaban natin,” she added.

(Now that she is the one who is detained, they are the ones who are detained in prison, it is time that we fight for their rights.)

According to Iris, their family faced difficulties after her sister was detained as Mariel and their mother were the ones providing for the family.

Iris also called for the junking of the Anti-Terror Law, saying it creates a chilling effect on the people.

“Nagiging ano po ito eh, nagiging rason para tumahimik ‘yung mga tao, para hindi na mag-participate ang mga tao sa pulitika kasi konting kibot mo lang sa government ikukulong ka,” she said.

(This is becoming a reason for people to be quiet, for them to not become involved in politics because of fear that a little criticism against the government would result in imprisonment.)

Meanwhile, College Editors Guild of the Philippines spokesperson Brell Lacerna said Cumpio’s situation is a warning to all student journalists.

“Itong mismong pangyayari kay Frenchie Mae Cumpio, banta siya sa lahat ng mga kinabukasan ng mga pahayagang pang-campus, ng mga student journalist tulad namin,” he said.

(The case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio is a warning against all student journalists.)

“Dapat ay gumawa ng aksyon ang gobyerno na tugunan ang mga kaliwa't kanang issue ng mga mamayang Pilipino,” he added.

(The government should take action to address the issues that are being reported.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News