Supporters mount for the release of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, editor of the Eastern Vista and her companion, Marielle Domequil, a lay worker and finance officer of the Rural Missionaries Philippines-Eastern Visayas chapter, a church-based national organisation, comprising priests and lay persons that empowers farmers, fisher-folk and indigenous peoples, and educates them on their rights, who are still being brought to trial at the Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 under very tight security. They were arrested three years ago at the Eastern Vista.
At the latest hearing on January 23, which coincided with Cumpio's 24th birthday, her camp filed for a motion for reconsideration after the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18 refused to allow her team to present evidence and arguments against the charges filed by the Anti Money Laundering Council, which confiscated P557,360 from the Eastern Vista, which the Council claimed could be used to finance the New People's Army similar to what the Philippine National Police theorized. But Domquil insisted thart the money is to finance the radio program of Cumpio entitled "Stand with Samar" humanitarian project.
Already, the National Union of Journalists recently decried jow coverage of human rights and community issues are often viewed as offenses and can lead to arrest even under a defective warrant, NUJP chair Jonathan de Santos told Rappler.
The families of five activists, collectively called Tacloban 5, said they have been suffering mental stress each day that their kin remain in detention, said a sister of one of the two women who attended a court hearing on January 23, the first hearing for additional charges of alleged "terrorist financing" against them. The two are being whisked in and out of the Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 under very tight security, with media kept away from them. They and an Alexander Philip Abinguna were earlier slapped with illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges.
The three were arrested before dawn of February 7, 2020 at the office of alternative news outfit Eastern Vista, where Cumpio was editor. They were with two other activists now out on bail: Mira Legion, former KASAMA sa UP Vice chair for Visayas and Marissa Cabaljao of People's Surge.
It can be recalled that officers raided Eastern Vista as a part of a series of operations by the Philippine National Police on alleged “communist-terrorist” staff houses in Tacloban.
Altermidya, the network of alternative news outfits that includes Eastern Vista, called the terroriinancing charge as “trumped-up."
“The charge made by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) against Frenchie and Mariel is connected to the money that was confiscated in the raid conducted by joint forces of the police and military at the two’s boarding house on February 7,” Altermidya stated.
“Two ‘supposed’ rebel surrenderees were presented by the military to allege that the money is supposedly to finance the New People’s Army (NPA),” the media network added.
The seized amount also underwent a civil forfeiture case at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18.
“It was granted in favor of the government in December last year, without prompt notice to Frenchie, Mariel, or their legal counsel,” Altermidya pointed out.
“As a community journalist and radio anchor, Frenchie covered and gave critical analysis to the stories of the struggling people of Eastern Visayas. For that, she was targeted,” they claimed.
But what many don't know, Cumpio had been a vocal activist and a passionate humanitarian advocate since her college days and inspired many for her fearlessness and bravery despite the red-tagging and even documented incidents of harassment and surveillance prior to her arrest.
Supporters had gathered outside the Department of Justice to show teir unwavering support for the Tacloban 5 hoping that they will be allowed to defend themselves for the alleged “wrongful” arrest.