Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil! Free All Political Prisoners!

The Asia Pacific Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (APCHRP) strongly condemns the denial of the motion for bail of two human rights advocates – Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a journalist, and Marielle Domequil, a lay community worker. On January 27, the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) filed a motion for bail in relation to the terror financing case, but it was denied by Judge Georgina Uy Perez. This denial constitutes a grave violation of their rights, including the right to reasonable bail, and appears politically motivated – aimed at obstructing their legitimate human rights work.

Judge Perez stated: “[T]he seriousness of the offense for which the accused were convicted, raises concern regarding the potential for them to continue to provide support – whether financial, logistical or operational, to terrorist organizations, if they are released on bail. To the mind of the court, the potential for continued involvement in such activities, weighs heavily against the grant of bail.” Such claims are baseless and serve to vilify the legitimate work of these two steadfast human rights defenders – work that long predates these trumped-up charges.

Moreover, even the prosecution’s own expert witness failed to establish a direct link or present proof connecting the two to the financing of terrorism. This underscores how, despite the lack of credible evidence, the court continues to rely on speculative and groundless assertions to justify continued detention.

It’s been six years in jail; this injustice must end. APCHRP calls for the immediate release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil. We also urge the Marcos Jr. government to free all political prisoners in the Philippines and to stop the harassment, red-tagging, and targeting of activists who stand with the people.