Groups decry denial of Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s bail

“They must end this injustice and persecution once and for all.”

MANILA — Local and international press freedom watchdogs denounced the denial of bail of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and her co-accused, church worker Marielle Domequil, for lack of merit. 

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called the accused’s continuing detention “unfortunate and unfair.”

“Each day that Frenchie [including Marielle] is in jail is another day that she is kept from her family and from the community whose issues and problems she had reported on and for,” NUJP said in a statement.

In a decision ruled on February 13, 2026, Tacloban City Regional Trial Court Branch 45 Judge Georgina Uy-Perez stated that the offense allegedly committed by the accused raised concerns about the “potential” for continuing involvement in the activities of so-called terrorist organizations. 

She further stated that the interest of the government—safeguarding the public and fighting terrorism as it claimed—outweighed the interest of the accused for provisional liberty, saying the latter’s case is connected to national security.

According to Perez, if bail is granted, there is also a likelihood that Cumpio and Domequil will evade the judgement given the penalty imposed.

Kapatid, a support group for political prisoners, criticized the court’s basis of denying the motion, particularly the so-called “potential” assistance to terrorist organizations.

“Criminal liability requires proof beyond reasonable doubt of a clear, intentional, and overt act. Liberty cannot be curtailed on speculation,” said Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, in a statement.

The accused were sentenced to 12-18 years of imprisonment after they were found guilty of allegedly violating Section 8(ii) of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act in a decision ruled by the same Tacloban court on January 22, 2026.

Read: How ‘ex-rebels’ testimonies lead to conviction of Cumpio, Domequil

Their connection to various organizations, the court said, also heightened the risk of flight, as their affiliations may allow access to support and resources that “can facilitate concealment, movement, or escape from lawful custody.”

The legal team of Cumpio and Domequil stressed that none of the five circumstances negating the grant of bail under Rule 114 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure are present.

These include whether the accused were repeat law offenders; if they escaped legal confinement; if they committed an offense while under probation or parole; if there is a probability of flight if released on bail; and if there is undue risk that they may commit another crime pending the appeal.

Lawyers highlighted the accused’s active participation in legal proceedings, exemplary conduct while in prison as shown in a certification issued by the Tacloban City Jail – Female Dormitory, and no derogatory record as reflected in their respective barangay certifications.

Read: Int’l groups nominate Frenchie Mae Cumpio for UNESCO’s 2026 Guillermo Cano Prize

They also pointed out that the accused already served almost half of the minimum penalty. Hence, it would be illogical for them to risk this credit.

But for Perez, “the mere absence of the said circumstances does not automatically entitle an accused to bail after conviction,” saying the other factors needed to be assessed. 

International press freedom organization the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the court ruling, saying Philippine authorities are keeping Cumpio behind bars to prevent her from exposing human rights violations through her reportage.

“They must end this injustice and persecution once and for all,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ Asia-Pacific director.

NUJP vowed continued support of Cumpio and Domequil as the legal battle continues. (RVO)

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