Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

Cumpio seeks bail, legal remedies after being convicted of financing terrorism

Article (news)

Rowena Caronan

Dabet Panelo

Ciara Annatu

TACLOBAN CITY – Lawyers of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio said they would apply for bail and appeal the January 22 court ruling, which sentenced Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil to at least 12 years in jail for financing terrorism.Cumpio and Domequil had been detained since February 2020. While the regional trial court in Tacloban City acquitted them of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, it handed them a guilty verdict for terrorism financing. Each faces 12 to 18 years behind bars and a fine of up to P500,000. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/22/journalist-frenchie-cumpio-journalist-found-guilty-of-terror-financing-0943" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Journalist Frenchie Cumpio found guilty of terror financing</a></div>At a press conference, Cumpio and Domequil’s lawyer Julianne Agpalo, said that while she respects the court’s decision, they will continue to fight and request the provisional release of the two.“We will continue to fight. One [is] for the immediate release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil. I hope that the motion we will file for them to be allowed to post bail pending their appeal be granted,” said Agpalo in mixed English and Filipino.Agpalo said that since Cumpio and Domequil’s offense is not punishable by death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment, admission to bail is discretionary after the conviction of a court. This means that a judge may decide to grant bail after conviction under Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.In addition to bail, Cumpio&#x27;s other lawyer Norberto Robel Jr. said they “will file a motion for reconsideration or appeal to the higher courts.”“With the decision, we just welcome it. It’s not yet final and executory. The evidence of the prosecution and the evidence of the defense shall still be considered on appeal,” said Robel.According to Robel, the case of financing terrorism involves “complicated” issues, including the “integrity” of the prosecution’s testimony-based evidence.Agpalo said they would challenge the credibility of the witnesses presented in the case.“Walang ibang ebidensiya na prinesent ang prosecution laban kay Frenchie maliban sa testimonial evidence. (There was no other evidence presented by the prosecution against Frenchie except for testimonial evidence.) However, it’s not corroborated by any documentary or photographic evidence,” Agpalo said.<div>Sad but hopeful</div>Although shocked and saddened by the court ruling, Cumpio and Domequil’s families said they remain hopeful that the court will grant their motion for bail.“Masaya na sana ‘yun kasi ‘yung unang binasa, ‘yung acquittal. Pero ‘yung pangalawa na, parang binagsakan kami kasi convicted po sila, hindi po namin inaasahan ‘yun ang decision ni judge,” said Cumpio&#x27;s mother, Lala Cumpio. (We would have been happy with that because the first ruling read was the acquittal. But the second one felt like a blow to us because they (Cumpio and Domequil) were convicted. We didn’t expect that to be the judge’s decision.)While they await the court’s next decision, Cumpio’s mother appealed for prayers in her message to her daughter.“Papagdasal lang natin na i-grant ‘yung motion para makasama ka na namin. ‘Wag tayong mawalan ng pag-asa… Nandito lang kami bilang pamilya na patuloy na sumusuporta sa’yo,” she said.(Let’s pray that the motion [for] bail be granted so you can be with us. Let’s not lose hope... We’re here for you as a family, continuing to support you)Domequil’s sister, Kyle Domequil, could only hope for her sister.“They already paid six years, they already stole six years of Ate Marielle [and] Ate Frenchie’s lives. That’s already half of the sentence if they are really convicted of the charges against them,” she said.<div>Dangerous precedent</div>International media and press freedom organizations condemned the conviction of Cumpio and Domequil. They warned that the decision could set a dangerous precedent for journalists and media workers in the Philippines. “The decision today by the court actually set a precedent, and it has far-reaching implications,” said Beh Lih Yi, Asia-Pacific director of the Committee to Protect Journalists.“Because the trend of using terrorism-related charges to go after journalists is a trend that we see in other auto-protective regimes and countries like Russia, Myanmar, Iran,” Yi said.“Using such kind of absurd and ridiculous charges to go after journalists, it’s not something that we expect to see in the Philippines,” she added.Aleksandra Bielakowska, Asia-Pacific advocacy manager of Reporters Without Borders, said she hoped that even with the decision, media workers in the Philippines could continue to work independently.&quot;I’m afraid that this type of charges in the future might be used against other media and, again, some of them are still facing them,” said Bielakowska.“We&#x27;re here to speak about it and to condemn this. We are afraid of this situation,” she said.

Lawyers of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio said they would apply for bail and appeal the January 22 court ruling, which sentenced Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil to at least 12 years in jail for financing terrorism.

Lawyers of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio said they would apply for bail and appeal the January 22 court ruling, which sentenced Cumpio and lay worker Marielle Domequil to at least 12 years in jail for financing terrorism.