The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and other allied organizations condemn the unjust conviction of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and humanitarian worker Marielle Domequi on charges of financing terrorism.

While the PBBM administration has attempted to position itself as pro human rights, particularly before the international community, this forced conviction exposes the government’s lack of genuine political will to pursue meaningful reforms. It reflects the systemic weaponization of the law to stifle dissent, where human rights defenders and civil society organizations are routinely labeled as terrorists to delegitimize their work and subject them to harassment, surveillance, arbitrary arrest, and even killings.

This practice perpetuates the targeting of human rights defenders, organizations, and CSOs, threatening and casting doubt on their commitment to providing humanitarian aid and public service. The conviction of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequi exemplifies how civic space in the Philippines is not only shrinking, but is being actively undermined through violence, harassment, and criminalization.

These baseless accusations constitute a direct attack not only against activists, human rights defenders, and organized forces, but also against the communities they are committed to serve. This miscarriage of justice reinforces a climate of fear among those who provide essential services to the public, responsibilities that should fundamentally rest with the state.

The current political climate illustrates the contradictions in the state’s approach to human rights. On one hand, officials welcome international scrutiny and highlight supposed reforms to claim progress. On the other, entrenched impunity, repressive laws, and exclusionary policies persist, continuing to treat human rights defenders as enemies rather than partners in democracy and justice. In this context, advocacy is carried out under constant threat, as the state claims to uphold human rights while actively targeting those who defend them.

We echo the call for the immediate release of Frenchie Mae Cumpio, Marielle Domequi, and the rest of the Tacloban 5. We remain steadfast in demanding the release of all political prisoners who continue to struggle for justice despite being deprived of their liberty through fabricated charges.


Signatories
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia
Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao
Asian NGO Network on National Human Rights Institutions
Center for Migrant Advocacy
Center for Teachers’ Development and Human Rights Inc.
FORUM – ASIA
Human Rights and People Empowerment Center
Human Rights Online PH
In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Korean House for International Solidarity
Oriang Women’s Movement
Partido Lakas ng Masa
Partido Lakas ng Masa – Youth and Students
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates
Philippine Human Rights Information Center
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines
The Ateneo Human Rights Center
World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

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