Five United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs have urged the temporary release of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil after they were found guilty of financing terrorism in the Philippines. The call was made by UN Special Rapporteurs Irene Khan, Ben Saul, Gina Romero, Mary Lawlor, and Margaret Satterthwaite.
In a joint statement released on March 5, 2026, the UN experts described the ruling as “troubling,” citing concerns over the pair’s six years of pre-trial detention and alleged lack of due process. They urged the court to grant them bail while they pursue their appeal, stressing that they “deserve to be free to fight for justice.”
Cumpio and Domequil were arrested in February 2020 and initially charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives. While they were acquitted of these charges, a Tacloban court on January 22, 2026, found them guilty of financing terrorism, sentencing them to 12 to 18 years in prison.
Their legal team has challenged the decision, arguing that the prosecution failed to present sufficient and reliable evidence. However, the court denied their motion for bail on February 13, 2026, citing risks of flight and potential continued involvement in alleged terrorist activities.
A hearing on their motions for reconsideration is set for March 23, 2026.
Meanwhile, international press freedom groups and local organizations have condemned the conviction and continued detention, calling it unjust and politically motivated. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and Free Press Unlimited nominated Cumpio for UNESCO’s 2026 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for her courage, commitment to journalism, and defense of press freedom.
Photo © Raffy Lerma