Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio Faces Dubious Double Murder Charge Amidst Legal Harassment

Manila, Philippines – Renowned Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae cumpio is now facing a grave accusation⁢ of double murder, a charge that critics and press freedom advocates are decrying as a blatant attempt⁢ at legal harassment and silencing. The case, which has resurfaced years ⁤after the alleged crime, is being scrutinized for⁣ its dubious evidence and procedural irregularities, notably given Cumpio’s ongoing detention on unrelated charges.

A Witness’s Contradictory Account

The new allegations stem from a double murder case involving two paramilitary soldiers, reportedly killed six years ago. According to an affidavit from a paramilitary soldier, who claims to be a survivor of the attack, he identified five out of seven attackers. Crucially, this witness claims to have “instantly recognized” Frenchie Mae Cumpio, stating ⁢he knew her “personally” for⁢ her alleged role in recruiting ⁤members for the New People’s Army (NPA). At the time of the alleged ⁢incident, Cumpio was already a well-known journalist in the region.

However, the credibility of this identification is severely undermined by the fact that the only other known witness in the case, also a paramilitary ‍soldier and purported survivor, does not mention Cumpio among the attackers he identified in his sworn statement.

“First, the accusations brought against Frenchie⁢ Mae Cumpio for ‘illegal possession of firearms’ and ‘financing terrorism’⁣ were exposed as bogus by RSF reporting and the hearings in her‍ ongoing trial. now,a long-dormant and ⁤suspicious case has suddenly been revived,accusing her of a double murder⁢ committed six years ago. The initial evidence we have reviewed paints a scenario just as far-fetched as the case she is ⁤currently facing. We condemn ⁣this blatant legal harassment to keep her in jail and call on the Philippine ⁤authorities to end this abuse of the justice system to silence a ⁤renowned journalist,” stated Arnaud Froger, head of⁢ the RSF Investigation Desk.

‘It looks like leverage’

Despite⁣ the gravity of the allegations‍ and the status of the victims, the witness’ “immediate identification” of Frenchie never led to her arrest ⁣in the weeks or even months that followed the ⁢alleged attack.⁢ This is particularly striking as she was ⁣reportedly under close military⁤ surveillance for far less serious suspicions. She ⁢was never questioned in connection ⁢with this ambush, neither before nor ‍after her February 2020‍ arrest on other charges. The circumstances surrounding the delayed accusation have led many to question⁢ the case’s legitimacy.

The case, however, has formally proceeded. Arrest warrants for Cumpio were issued by ⁣a judge on September 7, 2020, and August 6, 2021, for the new murder ⁤charges. These attempts to apprehend her were hampered by⁢ a misspelled name and the fact ⁤that she had already‍ been in detention for ⁤months on the initial charges.

“It looks like leverage as the ongoing case could be ⁤dismissed,” commented an individual ⁣familiar with the case,⁣ who requested anonymity.

Adding to the troubling nature⁢ of the proceedings, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) learned during a fact-finding mission in July that the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR), at the request of the ‍murdered soldiers’ families, had opened a parallel investigation into the double murder. The CHR, whose mandate is ⁢to⁢ investigate‍ human rights violations committed by state agents against civilians, ⁣found itself investigating a ‍journalist already facing what are described as unfounded charges, dubious ⁤police and military methods, and⁣ severe procedural failures.

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

This report was published in partnership with Reporters Without ⁢borders.