TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte — January 22, 2026 — Philippine journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been found guilty of financing terrorism by a regional trial court in Tacloban, a ruling that has drawn condemnation from press freedom advocates and human rights groups who called the case a “travesty of justice.”

The Regional Trial Court Branch 45 of Tacloban City convicted the 26-year-old journalist along with lay worker Marielle Domequil in a terrorism financing case. Both women have been detained since 2020 after their arrest in raids that also targeted activists in Eastern Visayas. While the court acquitted them of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, the guilty verdict on terror financing carries a potential sentence of up to 18 years in prison.

Cumpio, who was the executive director of the independent media outfit Eastern Vista and a radio anchor known for her critical reporting on militarization and human rights abuses in the region, has long maintained that the charges against her were fabricated to silence dissent. Rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International, said the ruling underscores the dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines. “Although the journalist was cleared on the charge of illegal possession of firearms, the ruling underscores the lengths that Philippine authorities are willing to go to silence critical reporting,” CPJ said in a statement.

Outside the courthouse, Cumpio’s mother broke down in tears after the verdict was read, while supporters decried what they described as judicial harassment. A UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression had earlier warned that the prolonged detention and trial of Cumpio reflected systemic issues in the country’s handling of dissent and press freedom.

The case has reignited debate over the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which critics argue has been weaponized against activists, journalists, and community organizers. Legal experts noted that while the acquittal on weapons charges removed one layer of accusation, the conviction for financing terrorism could set a precedent for targeting individuals based on alleged financial links rather than direct acts of violence.

Cumpio’s defense team is expected to file an appeal, insisting that the evidence presented was insufficient and that the charges were politically motivated. Human rights groups have vowed to continue campaigning for her release, warning that the verdict could further erode press freedom in the Philippines.

Who Feels Safer After This

A court has spoken, and due process demands respect. Supporters of the ruling argue terrorism financing laws exist to protect the public, and convictions are meant to deter real threats. Security, they say, requires firmness.

But safety is not only about force. Convicting Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a reporter cleared of weapons charges, sends a tremor through newsrooms. Press groups like Committee to Protect Journalists warn this verdict risks criminalizing critical reporting through broad accusations of “links” and “support.”

If journalists face prison for association rather than violence, the public loses watchdogs. Does this ruling truly make citizens safer, or does it make the press more afraid to speak?

Image from Amnesty Philippines