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CPJ and 91 global media groups press Philippine leader to free Frenchie Mae Cumpio

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CPJ and 91 global media groups press Philippine leader to free Frenchie Mae Cumpio

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New York, February 6, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists and more than 90 media groups around the world have called on Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to “right the wrong” and release jailed journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, as she marks six years behind bars on Saturday.

In a joint letter to Marcos coordinated by CPJ and the #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio coalition, press clubs and media organizations from Australia to India, and Japan to the United States, condemned Cumpio’s recent conviction on the charge of financing terrorism as “unbelievable and revolting.” The 27-year-old journalist was sentenced to between 12 and 18 years in prison.

“Journalists around the world are standing together with Frenchie Mae Cumpio because an attack on one journalist is an attack on all of us,” said CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi. “Her conviction sets a dangerous precedent in the Philippines by using counter-terrorism laws to silence the press, putting the country — a democracy and this year’s chair of ASEAN — in the same league as countries like Russia and Myanmar.”

Irene Khan, the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion, has condemned Cumpio’s prolonged detention as “a travesty of justice,” while the Media Freedom Coalition — a grouping of more than 50 countries that have pledged to protect press freedom — has called for journalists to be allowed to report “without fear of persecution” after Cumpio’s conviction in a statement signed by 16 embassies.

Before her arrest on February 7, 2020, Cumpio served as executive director of the Eastern Vista news website and worked as a radio news anchor, frequently reporting on alleged police and military abuses as well as community welfare issues.

CPJ has been advocating for Cumpio’s release for years.

CPJ and the #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio coalition have consistently raised concerns about allegations that authorities planted the weapons that led to her 2020 arrest. The #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio coalition includes CPJ, AlterMidya, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Reporters Without Borders, and Free Press Unlimited.

About the Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

Notes to editors: For media queries or interview requests, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Read the full letter below:

Open letter from global journalists, press clubs and media organizations

Dear President Marcos,

The recent conviction of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio of terrorism financing charges came as a shock to journalists and media freedom advocates. The court relying solely on implausible testimonies from prosecution witnesses has made the decision unbelievable and revolting.

On February 7, Cumpio and her companion, lay worker Marielle Domequil, will mark their sixth year in detention since their arrest in February 2020. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Opinion Irene Khan pointed out in a statement that the arrest and criminal charges, following months of ‘red-tagging’, surveillance, intimidation and harassment, appear to have been filed in retaliation for [Cumpio’s] work as a journalist. More than 250 journalists and representatives of media organizations from 35 countries all over the world wrote in September 2025 calling on your administration to stop the persecution of Cumpio and release her immediately.

It is gravely alarming that Cumpio has been publicly labeled as a communist and terrorist by no less than the Department of Justice (DOJ) following the court decision. The labeling puts her life in danger and shows how the administration attempts to isolate Cumpio and justify her continuous detention. It is also concerning that terrorism-related charges are used systematically by the Filipino authorities to prosecute journalists and human rights defenders. This is a deeply troubling trend that should not exist in a democracy, and it brings the Philippines dangerously close to its authoritarian neighbors.

Cumpio’s case is emblematic of the multiple risks faced by Filipino journalists. Elsewhere in the world, there are other Frenchie Mae Cumpios languishing in jail for telling the truth.

We, journalist groups, press freedom watchdogs and human rights organizations, reiterate our support for Cumpio and urge your Excellency to right the wrong. With the Philippines chairing the ASEAN this year, it is imperative that your administration walk the talk. The reversal of the unjust conviction of Cumpio is necessary to prove the Philippines’ commitment to press freedom, free expression and democracy.

Signatories:

  1. AAJA-Asia – Asian American Journalists Association’s Asia Chapter
  2. Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO)
  3. Aliansi Jurnalis Independen – AJI (Indonesia)
  4. Altermidya – People’s Alternative Media Network
  5. ARTICLE 19
  6. Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA)
  7. Asian American Journalists Association’s Asia Chapter
  8. Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication
  9. Association of Foreign Press Correspondents
  10. Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ)
  11. Atenews
  12. Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM)
  13. Baretang Bikolnon
  14. Bulatlat
  15. Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (Cambodia)
  16. Cari-Trans Support Group Jamaica
  17. Center for Community Journalism and Development
  18. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia
  19. Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ)
  20. College Editors Guild of the Philippines
  21. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  22. Dampig Katarungan
  23. Davao Today
  24. EMPOWERHOUSE – Denmark
  25. Filipino Freelance Journalists’ Guild
  26. Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP)
  27. Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  28. Freedom Forum, Nepal
  29. Freedom Network (FNPK), Pakistan
  30. Freedom Now
  31. Globe International Center, Mongolia
  32. Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA)
  33. Hong Kong Media Overseas
  34. Indian Journalists Union
  35. Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Pakistan
  36. International Association of Women in Radio & Television( IAWRT-Kenya)
  37. International Association of Women in Radio and Television – International
  38. International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Nepal
  39. International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Norway
  40. International Association of Women in Radio and Television – Philippines
  41. International Association of Women in Radio and Television – USA
  42. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  43. International Women’s Media Foundation
  44. Kodao Productions
  45. Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV)
  46. Media Diversity Institute (MDI)
  47. Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Australia
  48. Migrante Taiwan
  49. Mizzima Media – Myanmar
  50. Movement for Media Safety Philippines
  51. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
  52. National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia
  53. Nest Center for Journalism Innovation and Development NGO, Mongolia
  54. Northern Dispatch
  55. Paghimutad Negros
  56. Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
  57. Palestinian Journalists Syndicate
  58. Panay Today
  59. PanaySayon
  60. PEN America
  61. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
  62. Philippine Collegian
  63. Prachatai
  64. PUP Campus Journalists
  65. PUP The Catalyst
  66. Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  67. Salò of the University of the Philippines Manila – School of Health Sciences South Cotabato Campus
  68. Save Cagayan Valley
  69. Scientia – UP Diliman
  70. Serve the People Association (SPA) (Taiwan)
  71. Society of Professional Journalists
  72. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
  73. Swedish Tibet Committee
  74. Taiwan Association for Human Rights (Taiwan)
  75. Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC)
  76. The Accounts (College of Management, UP Visayas)
  77. The EyeWitness Project
  78. The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan (FCCJ)
  79. The Journalists Association of Korea (JAK)
  80. The Manila Collegian
  81. The Media and Democracy Project
  82. The Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI)
  83. The Vietnamese Magazine
  84. The Voice of UPLB DevComSoc (UPLB Los Baños)
  85. The Warden Publication (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa)
  86. Tinig ng Plaridel
  87. TomasinoWeb
  88. United for Climate Justice
  89. UP Solidaridad
  90. UPLB Perspective
  91. VERA Files
  92. World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters-Asia Pacific (AMARC-AP)

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