Responding to news of the conviction of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director, Ritz Lee Santos III, said:
“Amnesty International Philippines expresses grave concern over the guilty conviction ordered by the Tacloban City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against journalist, Frenchie Mae Cumpio, and human rights defender, Marielle Domequil. This decision illustrates the continuing misuse of counterterrorism laws to criminalize dissent. This verdict underscores the weaponization of the Anti-Terror Law to silence members of the media, human rights defenders, and development workers without credible evidence.
“The recent release of activist, Amanda Echanis, who should never have been detained in the first place, further exposes a broader pattern which has been documented by human rights organizations including Amnesty International, where activists and human rights defenders are subjected to red-tagging, arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and baseless charges for their peaceful work.
“While the acquittal of Echanis was a positive step, it is deeply alarming that the Courts have now convicted Cumpio and Domequil. Cumpio and Domequil must unconditionally and immediately be released. Authorities, especially the NTF-ELCAC, which has consistently been proven to target activists and curtail humanitarian work and peaceful dissent, must end the abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The Department of Justice must also ensure that this law is not used to unduly target those who are critical of the government, including imprisoning critics on baseless charges.
While the acquittal of Echanis was a positive step, it is deeply alarming that the Courts have now convicted Cumpio and Domequil. Cumpio and Domequil must unconditionally and immediately be released.
“Amnesty International Philippines also calls for prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into abuses in the implementation of the Anti-Terrorism Act and related authoritarian laws and practices, including the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. These laws have been repeatedly used to silence activists, human rights defenders, and media workers and cynically been used by Philippine government to justify its removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. Equally important is the urgent enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Act, to recognize and safeguard those who risk their lives defending human rights in the Philippines.
“Cumpio and Domequil continue to endure imprisonment, while Echanis lost five years of freedom she will never get back. No one should have to endure loss of liberty and livelihood for criticizing the government and peacefully standing up for human rights. Until accountability is delivered and repressive laws are dismantled, their cases will be a stark reminder of the state of human rights in the country.”
Background
On 22 January 2026, an RTC in the Philippines convicted journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil on charges of Terrorism Financing under the Anti-Terrorism Act. They were acquitted of illegal possession of firearms and explosives. On 14 January, another RTC acquitted activist and organizer, Amanda Echanis, of the same and ordered her release after spending more than five years in detention following her arrest in December 2020.