Press Statement

May 26, 2026

Community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil have filed a Petition for Certiorari before the Court of Appeals questioning the Tacloban Regional Trial Court’s denial of their application for bail pending appeal, arguing that the ruling constitutes a grave violation of their constitutional rights to liberty, due process, and meaningful appellate review.

In their Petition, Frenchie and Marielle assert that the trial court failed to undertake the careful, individualized, and evidence-based determination required by the Constitution before depriving persons of their liberty pending appeal. Instead of assessing whether the evidence of guilt against them was truly strong, the ss court merely relied on its own judgment of conviction despite the fact that the decision remains under appellate review and has not attained finality.

Frenchie and Marielle continue to maintain their innocence and assert that the charges filed against them form part of a broader pattern of harassment, red-tagging, and criminalization directed against journalists, activists, humanitarian workers, and human rights defenders in the Philippines.

Significantly, prior judicial findings in related proceedings directly contradict the State’s portrayal of Frenchie and Marielle as threats to public order or national security. Both were acquitted of the charge of illegal possession of firearms and explosives after the court itself found serious constitutional violations in the conduct of the search, opportunities for evidence planting, and critical evidentiary infirmities. In the same judgment, the Tacloban court categorically found no basis to conclude that they were engaged in money laundering or terrorism financing activities.

Their innocence is further reinforced when the Court of Appeals reversed the civil forfeiture ruling against them, expressly recognizing that Frenchie and Marielle are human rights advocates and ruling that the funds illegally seized from them were not connected to terrorism financing.

These judicial findings expose the weakness of the state’s case and underscore the substantial and meritorious nature of their pending appeal.

Hence, Frenchie and Marielle’s continued imprisonment for an otherwise bailable offense is not demanded by the public interest. Rather than protecting society, their prolonged detention inflicts irreparable harm on constitutionally protected freedoms, including press freedom, humanitarian work, and civic participation.

The National Union of Peoples Lawyers calls on the courts to uphold constitutional rights, protect meaningful judicial review, and ensure that liberty is not curtailed on the basis of fear, political stigma, or unfounded allegations. #

 Photo credit: FORUM ASIA