MANILA, Philippines — A journalist based in Tacloban City, Leyte and a lay worker were convicted on Thursday of financing terrorists, drawing condemnation from some media organizations that have been monitoring the case.
The city's Regional Trial Court convicted Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil of the crime but were acquitted for charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
In a statement on its website, the Altermidya Network, a network of media outlets, expressed "outrage" over the “clear injustice of the court decision amid glaring evidence that the charges against Frenchie Mae, Marielle Domequil, and the rest of Tacloban 5 are all fabricated,” referring to five human rights advocates who were arrested in Tacloban City in 2020 in a series of police raids. Aside from Domequil and Cumpio, also arrested were Alexander Abinguna, Mira Legion and Marissa Cabaljao.
“The decision is a grave injustice and is a serious peril to the already dire state of press freedom and free expression in the Philippines,” they added.