Filipino Journalist Frenchie mae Cumpio Faces troubling Double Murder Allegations

An exclusive RSF investigation reveals meaningful procedural irregularities and potential leverage in the case⁤ against journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, ⁤who⁣ was already detained on⁣ separate charges.

Unexplained delays and Improbable Circumstances

Despite the gravity of the allegations and the status of the victims, the witness’s “immediate identification” of Frenchie Mae Cumpio did not ⁢result in her arrest‍ for weeks, or even months, following the incident. This is⁤ especially striking given that Cumpio was reportedly⁤ under ‍close military surveillance for far less serious suspicions. She was never questioned in connection with the ambush, neither before⁤ nor after her arrest in February 2020. The circumstances surrounding this lack of immediate action are so improbable that⁤ they raise serious questions about the integrity of⁣ the case.

Arrest Warrants and Procedural⁢ Failures

The case ‍formally proceeded despite these ‍anomalies. On September 7, 2020, and ‍again on August 6, 2021, arrest warrants for Cumpio were issued by a judge for new murder charges. However, attempts to apprehend her were hampered by a critical error: her name was misspelled on the warrants. Moreover,by the time these warrants were issued,Cumpio had already been in detention for⁤ months on the initial charges.”it looks like leverage as the ongoing case coudl be dismissed,” stated an individual familiar with the case, who requested anonymity. This sentiment suggests that the new charges might be intended to keep Cumpio detained, potentially to ⁤prevent the dismissal of‍ the original, less severe accusations.

Commission on Human Rights Investigation: A Deviation from Mandate?

Adding another layer of concern, RSF learned during a fact-finding mission in July that the ⁤Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had opened a⁤ parallel investigation into the double murder of the soldiers. This investigation was initiated at ‍the request of the murdered soldiers’ families, running alongside the official judicial inquiry.

The CHR’s mandate is to investigate human rights violations committed by state agents against civilians. Its involvement in a ⁣case investigating a journalist, who is already facing what RSF describes as unfounded ‍charges from former rebels, dubious police and ⁣military methods, and severe procedural ⁤failures,‍ represents a significant deviation from its core mission.

When questioned by RSF in Manila about this apparent departure from its mandate, the commission ⁤stated that its inquiry into Cumpio’s alleged⁣ participation in the double murder had since been closed “for lack of sufficient evidence.”

Context of Press Freedom in the Philippines

The Philippines ranked 116th out of 180 countries in‍ the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, highlighting the challenging environment for journalists in ‍the archipelago. The ⁤case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio underscores these broader concerns about press freedom and the potential for judicial processes to be used to target journalists.

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This article, “Filipino Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio ⁣Faces Troubling Double Murder Allegations,” is the second part of an exclusive RSF investigation into the case of Frenchie Mae Cumpio.

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