ON JANUARY 22, 2026, community journalist Frenchie May Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil were convicted by Judge Georgina Perez of the Tacloban City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45, of terrorism financing, and were sentenced to a prison term of up to 18 years.
The judge admitted giving weight to the testimony ofwhat the AFP identified as surenderee/ex-rebels, saying that in March 29,2019, “they facilitated the delivery of cash and ammunition to CPP-NPA members.” Compioand Domequil were among the five activists, collectively referred to as “Tacloban 5,” after they were arrested on February 7, 2020, in Tacloban. (INQUIRER)
Fides Lim of KAPATID, a support group for political prisoners, said that “justice demands that Frenchie and Marille be granted bail while the courts review a conviction that remains deeply contested being legally infirm and constitutionally unsound.”
The MEDIA FREEDOM COALITION EMBASSY NETWORK (comprising sixteen foreign embassies – Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom) “expressed outrage over Cumpio’sconviction, the first Filipino journalist to be punished by the 2012 law on terrorism financing…a case, stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists in pursuit of their vital work…We urge all stakeholders to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of persecution or undue interference. Freedom of expression and the ability to report independently are essential pillars of democracy and must be safeguarded.”
IS IT REALLY WORKING?
With the international community actively watching not only the country’s current political and socio-economic developments, but also the justice system,under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos and VP Sara Duterte, shouldn’t the Senate and the House of Representatives be alarmed about how the country’s judiciary system is working, and make sure it is REALLY working?
A country’s justice system must adhere to the highest standards of fairness and transparency, as it serves as the bedrock of democracy, giving impetus to peace and progress for the nation and its people.
Indeed, freedom of the press for the country ensures that the people are well informed of how the government is functioning in accordance with its mandate, based on the Constitution and Rule of Law.
ARE THEY FULLY AWARE?
The Filipino people can rest easy and feel assured of a stable and just government working for a decent life of everyone, if they are fully made aware of how the government leadership is addressing not only the currently existing social inequalities, but more so the infirmities of the justice system, so that those who are truly guilty are made accountable (as for example, the corrupt Senators and Congressmen in the messy case of ghost and sub-standard flood control and other infrastructure projects).
Moreover, the Philippines’ justice system is expected to protect and promote the interests of all Filipino citizens, that is, justice for children and youth in their educational and healthcare needs as they attain adulthood.
More importantly, the government should ensure thatjustice is always a given to the workers – laborers, farmers, fisherfolks, IPs, vendors, small entrepreneurs, businessmen, professionals, which include journalists and church workers.
Justice has been trampled upon by the courts since the ICC jailbird, Rodrigo, ordered EJKs and jailed a senator on trumped-up charges.
When will the Marcos-Duterte regime stop injustice in the courts?