Court urged to allow convicted journalist to post bail

MANILA, Philippines — Political prisoners’ group Kapatid yesterday urged the courts to allow community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and co-accused Mariel Domequil to post bail, citing “legal flaws” in their conviction.

The Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 convicted Cumpio and Domequil on Thursday of terror financing but acquitted them of illegal possession of firearms.

Kapatid argued that the ruling of Judge Georgina Perez “has no sound legal basis” because the police raid that led to their six-year detention was already questioned when the Court of Appeals nullified a forfeiture case in 2020 brought by the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

“Detention beyond this point should not amount to greater punishment, especially when the conviction itself is being seriously questioned as stemming from the same poisoned tree of made-up charges rooted in red-tagging and political persecution,” Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim said in a statement.

Cumpio and Domequil are facing the prospects of another six years in prison, as the offense of terrorism financing has an attached penalty of 12 to 18 years imprisonment.

“Justice demands that Frenchie and Marielle be granted bail while the courts review a conviction that remains deeply contested for being legally infirm and constitutionally unsound,” Lim said.

The Media Freedom Coalition Embassy Network in the Philippines also reiterated their call for the protection of press freedom following Cumpio’s conviction.

“We urge all stakeholders to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of persecution,” the statement read. — Janvic Mateo