Human rights and journalist groups condemned a Tacloban local court’s ruling to affirm community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil’s conviction on terrorism financing.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed extreme disappointment with the Tacloban Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45’s March 25 ruling. 

“Judge Uy-Perez’s blind faith in the testimonies of self-declared rebel surrenderers is unacceptable and unjust,” it said. “It sets a very dangerous precedent, that even without documentary evidence, the court can punish those wrongfully accused by individuals acting in cahoots with state security forces.”

The ruling, signed by Tacloban Judge Georgina Uy-Perez, said the court “carefully weighed” the testimonies of the five alleged rebel surrenderees. 

The ruling, signed by Tacloban Judge Georgina Uy-Perez, said the court “carefully weighed” the testimonies of the five alleged rebel surrenderees. 

“[T]he testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, who were former CPP-NPA members, clearly established both the voluntary nature of the act committed by the two accused in providing funds and supplies to members of the CPP-NPA,” the ruling read. 

In the earlier Jan. 22 ruling, the Anti-Money Laundering Council failed to present any evidence proving the surrenderee’s claims that they saw Cumpio and Domequil in the mountains of Catbalogan, Samar, where they allegedly received and turned over cash worth P100,000 meant for the New People’s Army. 

Perez sentenced the two to up to 18 years in prison, along with a fine of P500,000 each. 

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KAPATID, a support group of families and friends of political prisoners, also condemned the court’s ruling.

“Anim na taon [nang] nakakulong ang dalawang bilanggong pulitikal,” it said. “Sa desisyong ito, maaari pa silang mabulok sa piitan [nang] hanggang 16 taon — isang malinaw at matinding [inhustisya].”

Cumpio and Domequil were arbitrarily arrested in February 2020, but a verdict was only reached after six years of imprisonment, in January 2026.

The two filed a joint motion for bail five days after they were convicted on Jan. 22, but was also denied by the Tacloban RTC on Feb. 13. 

Amnesty International Philippines said Cumpio’s prolonged legal proceedings are a “misuse” of the country’s judicial processes, becoming “punitive measures or serve as threats to others who carry on with their activism and development work.” 

It urged the Marcos Jr. administration to conduct a “prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent” investigation into the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which it said grants excessive and unchecked powers.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also denounced the court’s decisions, calling on the Marcos Jr. administration to stop weaponizing the Anti-Terror Law against journalists. 

The groups continue to express support for Cumpio and Domequil.

KAPATID said lawyers of both political prisoners are determined to elevate the case to the Court of Appeals.

NUJP said, “As with other cases of trumped-up criminal charges, we are confident that the truth will prevail and she (Cumpio) and Marielle will eventually walk free.”