On Sept. 29, the Regional Trial Court of Tacloban has scheduled a hearing for the rebuttal of evidence on her case. In this timeline, Bulatlat looks back on Cumpio’s case, the lone Filipino journalist who is currently behind bars for her work.

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Tacloban-based community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been in detention since 2020 for trumped up charges. Local and international media organizations and press freedom watchdogs have been calling on the Philippine government to provide swift resolution to the case. 

On Sept. 29, the Regional Trial Court of Tacloban has scheduled a hearing for the rebuttal of evidence on her case. 

In this timeline, Bulatlat looks back on Cumpio’s case, the lone Filipino journalist who is currently behind bars for her work.

The case of Cumpio illustrates the painstakingly slow judicial process on harassment suits filed against human rights defenders. 

February 7, 2020 | State forces arrest then-21-year-old Cumpio and four other human rights workers—collectively known as Tacloban 5—around 2:30 a.m. in a simultaneous raid in Tacloban City after guns, ammunition, a fragmentation grenade, and an alleged flag of the revolutionary organization Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) were allegedly recovered. 

The arrested activists were identified as Alexander Philip Abinguna of Karapatan Eastern Visayas, Mira Legion of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Eastern Visayas, Marissa Cabaljao of People Surge Network and her one-year-old baby, and Marielle Domequil of Rural Missionaries of the Philippines Eastern Visayas.

Prior to this, Cumpio, executive director of alternative news outlet Eastern Vista, reported that she was under surveillance. Abinguna, on the other hand, requested from the Commission on Human Rights two days prior to the raids an “on-site inspection” of their office to ensure no illegal items were present. 

February 10, 2020 | Police files charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives against Cumpio and Domequil. 

The two, including Abinguna, remain detained at the Tacloban City Jail because of their non-bailable offenses. Legion and Cabaljao, on the other hand, were charged with illegal possession of firearms and allowed to post bail.

June 23, 2020 | During the first hearing, Judge Georgina Perez of Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 denies a motion to quash information, to quash the issued search warrant, to suppress evidence, and to return seized items not included in the search warrant.

In a statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) raised alleged irregularities in the February 2020 arrest, saying there were no witnesses during the operation, which was executed in the early hours.

December 22, 2020 | The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) files a petition for civil forfeiture and issuance of a provisional asset preservation order (PAPO) against Cumpio and Domequil. 

According to a report by Altermidya, the council claimed that the over P500,000 ($8,605) of cash recovered during the arrest was intended for the CPP and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). The two accused earlier explained it was intended for a humanitarian project.

March 29, 2021 | A terrorism financing complaint is filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Cumpio and Domequil over the allegation that they delivered cash and logistics supplies to the NPA in Samar in 2019, according to the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL). 

September 30, 2021 | The DOJ finds probable cause to indict Cumpio and Domequil for terrorism financing.

October 13, 2021 | A terrorism financing case against the two accused is filed before the Catbalogan City Regional Trial Court. But the case was later on transferred to Tacloban City on June 10, 2022 with the creation of the Anti-Terrorism designated courts.

December 7, 2022 | The Manila Regional Trial Court rules a decision granting the AMLC petition, making the provisional asset preservation order on the recovered cash during Cumpio’ and Domequil’s arrest permanent.

January 27, 2024 | Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan visits Cumpio and two other human workers who are currently detained at Tacloban City Jail.

November 11, 2024 | Cumpio testifies in court for the first time in over four years since her arrest. 

Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan expresses dismay on Cumpio’s prolonged pre-trial detention. Khan called on the Philippine authorities to provide a swift resolution of Cumpio’s case.

January 8, 2025 | An investigation made by press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) exposes that police authorities allegedly linked Cumpio to a 2019 ambush in Northern Samar, which resulted in the killing of two soldiers. Cumpio was not knowledgeable about this until recently.

NUPL confirmed in an online forum in line with National Press Freedom Day on August 30 that Cumpio and his co-accused Abinguna are facing murder and attempted murder charges because of the alleged ambush. The cases were filed on July 29, 2020, according to NUPL Eastern Visayas.

February 24, 2025 | Cumpio takes the witness stand for the second time to debunk the allegations against her and her co-accused, Domequil.

March 24, 2025 | Cumpio takes the witness stand for the third time to defend herself.

April 30, 2025 | Cumpio’s case has been listed as one of the “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases in the world this year published by the One Free Press Coalition. It aims to bring attention to journalists who have been imprisoned for speaking truth to power.

June 16, 2025 | International press freedom watchdogs Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and Free Press Unlimited are denied access to visit Cumpio due to “further requirements.” This was despite submitting their request over a month from the day they arrived in the country. 

July 16, 2025 | Altermidya files a complaint before the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) against Tacloban City Jail Warden J/Insp Eva Naputo because of her alleged “repressive treatment” of Cumpio and Domequil. This included the alleged refusal to grant the rights of the accused to medical check-ups, privately confer with their lawyers, and receive visits from the media community. 

July 31, 2025 | The Commission on Human Rights launches an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of Cumpio and Domequil inside the Tacloban City Jail following the complaint filed by Altermidya. 

August 19, 2025 | Altermidya receives a letter from BJMP Region 8 that Tacloban City Jail Warden J/Insp Eva Naputo had been relieved from her post following the complaint filed by the former. But the investigation on reported abuses is still ongoing.

Julianne Agpalo of NUPL said the legal defense of Cumpio already presented their evidence for both cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives and terrorism financing in the latter part of August. But the court scheduled a hearing on Sept. 29 for the presentation of rebuttal evidence.

Agpalo said if the prosecution won’t present evidence at the rebuttal stage, the cases will be submitted for resolution.
However, she added that even if the accused journalist is acquitted in these cases, she may still be in detention because of the murder and attempted murder raps, which are non-bailable offenses, although her legal counsel has already manifested to file a motion to dismiss the charges. (RVO)