November 11, 2024 - Tacloban, Philippines

Four years after her initial arrest and prolonged detention for simply doing her job, journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio testified today for the first time in Tacloban, facing charges of illegal firearm possession and terrorist financing. Women Press Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with Cumpio and demands her immediate release, along with the dismissal of all charges against her.

Cumpio, a correspondent for AlterMidya and Eastern Vista, was arrested during a police raid in February 2020 and has been unjustly imprisoned ever since. Philippine authorities have labeled her a high-ranking officer of the Communist Party—a baseless claim aimed at silencing her courageous reporting on abuses of power.

Weaponizing anti-terror laws against journalists, activists, and critics who expose illegal practices and human rights violations is unacceptable. Urgent reforms are needed to ensure that those who speak out against injustice are not punished through legislation.

Press freedom in the Philippines is under constant threat, with restrictive laws targeting critical reporting. Women Press Freedom has documented at least 23 cases of threats against women journalists in the last five years, including the arrests of Cumpio, Maria Ressa, and Lady Ann Salem.

We renew our call for the release of the Tacloban 5, the group which includes Cumpio, as their legal persecution reveals the state’s active suppression of press freedom. Cumpio’s prolonged detention and ongoing trial are blatant violations of her right to free speech and an attack on journalistic integrity.