Terrorism financing o red-tagging?
Ito ang pagkondena ng iba't ibang grupo ng journalists, foreign embassies, at human rights advocates mula sa loob at labas ng bansa sa hatol na guilty kay Frenchie Mae Cumpio, 27.
Hinatulan ng guilty sa kasong "terrorism financing" si Cumpio, na isang journalist at radio broadcaster sa Tacloban City.
Kasama niyang nahatulan ang dating roommate na si Marielle Domequil.
Si Frenchie Mae ang kauna-unahang mamamahayag na nahatulan ng "terrorism financing" sa ilalim ng kontrobersiyal na mga probisyon ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Si Marielle naman ay ang kauna-unahang church worker na nahatulan sa ilalim din ng nasabing ATA of 2020.
Si Marielle ay miyembro ng Rural Missionaries of the Philippines.
Ang sentensiya sa dalawa ay 12-18 years na pagkakakulong.
Binasahan ng desisyon sina Cumpio at Domequil sa Tacloban Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45, nitong Januay 22, 2026.
Parte sa nailathalang desisyon na mababasa sa Department of Justice website: “In a decision penned by Presiding Judge Georgina S. Uy-Perez, the court found Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil guilty of violating Section 8(ii) of Republic Act No. 10168, otherwise known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, for making available funds or properties to the CPP-NPA in Catbalogan City, Samar.
Pinangalanan dito ang mga kasapi sa prosecutors' panel.
Sila ay ang mga sumusunod: OIC-City Prosecutor Julius P. Babalcon (lead), Assistant City Prosecutor Regina Paredes-Elizarde, Assistant City Prosecutor Geraldine Arica, at Senior Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Dylan Enage, na later ay in-appoint bilang Municipal Trial Court Judge ng Pastrana, Leyte.
Acquitted naman sina Cumpio at Domequil sa magkahiwalay na kaso ng illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Bago basahan ng hatol, anim na taon nang nakaditena sina Cumpio mula nang maaresto noong February 2020.
Noong mga panahong iyon, si Cumpio ay executive director ng Eastern Vista news website at radio news anchor ng Aksyon Radyo-Tacloban DYVL.
Director din siya noon ng Altermidya o People's Alternative Media Network, isang grupo ng independent at progressive media outfits sa Pilipinas na may layuning ihayag ang mga kuwento at isyu ng marginalized sectors.
Sa simpleng pananalita, ang marginalized sectors ay mga mamamayang walang boses sa lipunan.
Ang tinututukan noon ni Cumpio ay pag-uulat ukol sa umano’y police and military abuses at community welfare issues sa Eastern Visayas.
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COMMUNITY JOURNALIST'S ARREST IN 2020
Si Cumpio ay inaresto noong February 7, 2020, kasama ang apat pang human rights activists—na tinaguriang “Tacloban 5”— sa sunud-sunod na police raids na ginawa sa Tacloban City.
Unang kinasuhan ng illegal possession of a firearms and explosives si Cumpio dahil sa umano’y nakitang baril at granada sa kanyang kama.
Makalipas ang ilang taon, pinatungan ito ng kasong terror financing, hayag ng International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Ayon sa kanyang kampo at mga tagasuporta, biktima si Cumpio ng red-tagging.
Parte ng ulat ng IFJ: “Cumpio and her colleagues were subject to ‘red-tagging’, where journalists, activists, union leaders, and human rights defenders are labelled as connected to armed communist insurgent groups, often accompanied by threats, harassment, or attacks.”
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16 EMBASSIES concerned about verdict
Labing-anim ang mga bansang nagpahayag ng pagkabahala sa hatol kay Cumpio.
Ang mga ito ay: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, at United Kingdom.
Sila ay may mga embahada sa Pilipinas at mga miyembro ng Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), ang grupong itinayo noong 2019 ng mga embahada ng iba’t ibang bansa.
Ang MFC ay global diplomatic network ng 51 countries na nangangakong ipagtatanggol sa mga banta ang media freedom.
Ang pahayag ng MFC ay ipinost sa Instagram account ng Germany Consulate and Embassy.
Ganito ang caption sa post: “Members of the MFC Local Embassy Network in the Philippines express their concern [regarding] the recent developments on the case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil.”
Kalakip nito ang buong pahayag ng embassy network sa Pilipinas.
Narito ang buong pahayag:
“Today marks the fifth birthday that Frenchie Mae Cumpio has spent in detention, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists in the pursuit of their vital work.
“We, the undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition Embassy Network in the Philippines, reaffirm our commitment to the protection of press freedom and the rights of journalists worldwide.
“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.”
Ginamit rito ang hashtag na #PressFreedom
reporters' groups, congresswoman SUPPORT CUMPIO
Mayroon ding grupo ng mga mamamahayag sa loob at labas ng bansa, pati na rin mga human rights advocates, ang kumondena sa hatol kay Cumpio.
Noon pa man, ang local and foreign groups na ito ay naging masigasig sa pagsuporta kay Cumpio. Kinondena nila noon ang pagdakip kay Cumpio dahil ito anila ay pagsupil sa freedom of expression.
Kabilang dito ang Reporters Without Borders (RSF), isang international at non-profit organization na nakabase sa Paris, France, na advocate ng mga mamamahayag at “exposes abuses and campaigns for media independence worldwide.”
Sa kanyang pahayag, sinabi ni Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau advocacy manager, na ikinagulat niya ang hatol kay Cumpio.
Ani Bielakowska, ang resulta ng imbestigasyon ng RSF at ang mga ebidensya ng mga abogado ni Cumpio na inilatag sa korte, “clearly show how fabricated this case has been from the very beginning.”
Giit ni Bielakowska, “Frenchie Mae Cumpio’s conviction represents a devastating failure on the part of the Philippine justice system and the authorities’ blatant disregard for press freedom.
“The Philippines should serve as an international example of protecting media freedom — not a perpetrator that red-tags, prosecutes and imprisons journalists simply for doing their work.”
Nanawagan siya muli kay Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na umaksiyon para sa paglaya ni Cumpio.
Sabi ni Bielakowska, “Without his decisive action, there will be no meaningful difference from previous administrations that showed no regard for upholding a free press.”
Isa rin si Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Elago sa mga kumondena sa hatol kay Cumpio.
Parte ng kanyang pahayag, “We are outraged by this clear injustice, especially in light of overwhelming evidence that the cases against Frenchie Mae and the rest of the Tacloban 5 were manufactured."
“This decision exposes how the law continues to be weaponized to persecute journalists and activists who dare to speak truth to power.
“Like many women journalists and human rights defenders, Frenchie Mae and Marielle have faced harassment, prolonged detention, and relentless red-tagging meant to break their resolve and deter others from organizing, reporting, and holding power to account.”
Inalmahan din ang hatol kay Cumpio ni Bi Lih Yi, Asia Program Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“This decision sets a precedent as Frenchie Mae is the first journalist in the world to be convicted of financing terrorism,” ani Bi Lih Yi sa ulat ng Inquirer.net.
“I think the decision sends a chilling effect not only among journalists in the Philippines but also worldwide.
“It has far-reaching implications because of the trend of using terrorism charges to go after journalists in autocratic countries like Russia, Myanmar using such absurd and ridiculous charges to go after journalists.”
PRO-8 supports court's decision
Samantala, naglabas naman ng reaksiyon ang Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) sa naging desisyon ng korte.
Ang PRO-8 ang siyang nagsampa ng mga kaso laban sa Tacloban 5.
Parte ng kanilang pahayag via Facebook post: “PRO 8 underscores the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law reflected in this outcome.
"The conviction for terrorism financing highlights the collaborative efforts of the community and/or stakeholders and the government’s firm commitment to combating terrorism and cutting off financial support to any terrorist activities.”
CUMPIO LAWYERS' NEXT STEPS
Kasunod ng mga kaganapang ito, nagpaplanong mag-file ng motion for reconsideration at mag-a-apply for bail ang mga abogado nina Cumpio at Domequil na sina Atty. Julianne Agpalo at Atty. Norberto Robel, Jr.
Paliwanag ni Atty. Agpalo, dahil ang hatol kay Cumpio at Domequil ay hindi punishable by death, reclusion perpetua, o habambuhay na pagkakakulong, ang admission to bail ay discretionary, ulat ng ABS-CBN News.
Ani Atty. Robel sa isang panayam: “We still stand in our position that they are innocent. In fact, we will avail of all the legal remedies of the remedies available and we will discuss this as legal team so much so that they will be released as soon as possible.”
Bukod sa 12 hanggang 18 taong pagkakakulong, pinagmumulta rin sila ng PHP500,000 bawat isa.
Mula Tacloban City Jail, inutos din ang paglipat kina Cumpio at Domequil, sa Correctional Institution for Women sa Mandaluyong City.
ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2020
Ang kasong "terror financing" ay nag-ugat sa probisyon mula sa Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, na pinirmahan ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong July 3, 2020, at naging epektibo noong July 18, 2020.
Kontrobersiyal ang batas na ito.
Noon pa lang June 5, 2020, sa isang artikulo ng Humans Rights Watch online site, tinawag ni Human Rights Watch deputy director Phil Robinson na "human rights disaster in the making" ang naipasang batas sa Pilipinas.
"The law will open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president," dagdag ni Robinson.
Nakasaad sa artikulo na nakakaalarma raw ang "overbroad definition of terrorism" sa ilalim ng Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Partikular na rito ang probisyon na nagsasabing act of terrorism ang panghikayat sa iba "by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations tending to the same end."
Ang problema, ayon pa rin sa artikulo ng Human Rights Watch, hindi malinaw ang depinisyon kung ano ang maituturing na "incitement."
Isa raw itong malaking banta sa freedom of speech and expression ng media.
Lalo pa raw at nakapaloob sa batas ang pagkakaroon ng Anti-Terrorism Council o "special body" na binubuo ng Cabinet officials na appointed ng Presidente ang binigyan ng awtoridad na ipatupad ang batas.
Maaaring maaresto ang sinumang pinaghihinalaang suspek ng walang warrant at maaaring maditena kahit walang pormal na kaso.