MANILA, Philippines — After nearly six years in detention, the fate of Tacloban-based community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio will finally be decided this week. A Tacloban City Regional Trial Court is scheduled to promulgate its decision on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Cumpio, 26, faces serious charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as terrorism financing. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to 40 years in prison.
A Long Wait for Justice The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the “Free Frenchie Mae” coalition have renewed their calls for her acquittal, arguing that the charges were trumped up to silence her reporting. Before her arrest in February 2020, Cumpio served as the executive director of Eastern Vista, where she frequently reported on alleged military and police abuses in the Eastern Visayas region.
“The past five years have taken them away from their lives, their families, and from the important work they had been doing reporting on community issues,” the NUJP stated.
Two Possible Scenarios Josa Deinla, secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), outlined two primary outcomes for Thursday:
- Acquittal/Exoneration: Cumpio and her co-accused, activist Marielle Domequil, could be cleared of all charges and immediately released.
- Conviction: Should the court find them guilty, the defense is poised to file a motion for reconsideration or elevate the case to a higher court through an appeal.
The Context of Arrest Cumpio was among five individuals arrested during a series of dawn raids in Tacloban City on February 7, 2020. The military has consistently alleged that the group had links to the New People’s Army (NPA). Cumpio has steadfastly denied these “Red” links, maintaining that she was targeted solely for her work as a journalist.
The case has garnered international attention, with UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan visiting Cumpio at the Tacloban City Jail in early 2024 to discuss the state of press freedom in the Philippines. As the clock ticks toward Thursday’s ruling, the media community remains on edge, viewing the verdict as a landmark indicator of the country’s current judicial and press freedom climate.