CATBALOGAN, Philippines — On the eve of National Press Freedom Day, a coalition of international and local media rights groups renewed their call for the immediate release of detained community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been behind bars for more than five years without a conviction.
Cumpio, 26, was arrested in February 2020 alongside four human rights defenders in Tacloban City. Authorities accused her of illegal possession of firearms and explosives—charges she and her supporters insist were fabricated. Rights groups have long claimed the weapons allegedly found during a police raid were planted, and her detention highlights what they call a “pattern of harassment” against journalists covering state abuses.
Before her arrest, Cumpio served as executive director of the alternative news site Eastern Vista and anchored a local radio program, often reporting on poverty, community welfare, and alleged police and military abuses in Eastern Visayas.
Her trial, nearing its end after years of delays, resumes September 29, 2025, where she faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. She is also under investigation for alleged involvement in an ambush that killed two soldiers—accusations media groups describe as “baseless” and politically motivated.
The coalition—composed of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), AlterMidya, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Free Press Unlimited (FPU)—has closely monitored the case since Cumpio began testifying in November 2024.
In June this year, several coalition members traveled to Tacloban to seek access to Cumpio in jail but were denied. Diplomatic missions and international NGOs were later permitted to visit her after months of lobbying. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) also raised alarms over her detention conditions, launching a regional investigation.
The case has drawn global attention. In May, the One Free Press Coalition listed Cumpio among the world’s “10 Most Urgent” press freedom cases. A month later, UN special rapporteur Irene Khan formally called for her release in a report to the UN Human Rights Council.
“National Press Freedom Day should celebrate the role of journalists in a democracy,” the coalition said in a joint statement. “Instead, it underscores how dangerous it has become to do journalism in the Philippines. We urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Justice to drop all charges and release Cumpio without delay.”
During an online media briefing on Saturday, August 30, Cumpio’s lawyer Julienne Agpalo said the next hearing will focus on the prosecution’s rebuttal to evidence presented by the defense.
International NGOs and local press groups reiterated their appeal for her immediate release, with the NUJP leading a nationwide campaign highlighting her case. | Ricky Bautista
