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The NUJP also emphasized the need to address the climate of impunity. If this still exists, “no amount of safety measures would be enough to protect ourselves from harm.”
It is still under the dark orange category, which implies a “difficult” state of press freedom.
“As the ‘tribune of the people,’ the OSG has a duty to ensure that sham and fabricated cases, like the cases against Frenchie and Marielle, should not be allowed to prosper.”
“[One rebel returnee’s] assertions as a ‘single cooperating insider’ must be received with extreme caution. Unless it is supported by independent and unbiased evidence, her narration of the events deserves scant consideration."
“Uy-Perez’s blind faith in the testimonies of self-declared rebel surrenderers is unacceptable and unjust.”
“The team as well as the families of Frenchie and Maye are hoping that the decisions will be made as soon as possible.”
"Cumpio and Domequil deserve to be free to fight for justice.”
A support group for political prisoners criticized the court’s basis of denying the motion, particularly the so-called “potential” assistance to terrorist organizations.
“Awarding her with the 2026 UNESCO’s Cano Prize would be a clarion call for the Philippines and other countries to cease the rampant criminalization and undue imprisonment of journalists."
Media workers, press freedom advocates, and human rights defenders troop to the Department of Justice to condemn the 6th year of imprisonment of Tacloban 5, including community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights workers Mariel Domequil and Alexander Philip Abinguna.
The case sets a dangerous legal precedent. It signals that reporting on militarization, development projects, or marginalized communities can be recast as terrorism.
Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s continued detention is not only an injustice against one journalist. It is an assault on press freedom, community journalism, and the public’s right to know. When journalism is criminalized, entire communities are silenced –and democracy is further diminished.
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) issued public statements on January 26 rejecting the conviction and urging its reversal.
Cumpio and Domequil were targeted because of their efforts to improve the lives of the poor people in Eastern Visayas.
Hindi pa tapos ang laban kahit nagdesisyon na ang korte. Dapat lang na magsampa ng apela. Ituloy ang pangagampanya para sa kalayaan. Huwag hayaang mabulok sa bilangguan ang mga walang kasalanan.
“It’s based on these self-serving testimonies of these military assets, whose credibility in the first place should be questioned."
The conviction went against a previous decision in October 2025 by the Court of Appeals which voided the civil forfeiture case against Cumpio and Domequil.
The conviction went against a previous decision in October 2025 by the Court of Appeals which voided the civil forfeiture case against Cumpio and Domequil.
Cumpio’s conviction would set a dangerous precedent for journalists speaking truth to power.
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