Ched Rick Gatchalian

Activists call for the release of detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio. Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

 

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CA reverses forfeiture case vs. journalist, lay worker

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17624181627731731311215721GcEddK4bkAAPSdQ.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Activists call for the release of detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio. Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the forfeiture case against journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church lay worker Marielle Domequil, stating there was insufficient factual and legal basis to prove the charges.Cumpio and Domequil are both part of the &quot;Tacloban 5&quot; who were arrested on February 2020 for alleged illegal possession of firearms and terrorism financing charges. The former was a community journalist for Eastern Vista located in Tacloban City, and the latter is a member of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, a church-based organization.In its decision, CA (3rd division) reversed and set aside the ruling of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 18, Manila, dated December 7, 2022, which ordered the forfeiture of P557,360 seized during the arrest.The appellate court stated there is lack of reason to believe the two are connected to the New Peoples Army (NPA), advising authorities to refrain from &quot;hasty labelling&quot; of human rights advocates as terrorists.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/11/activists-call-for-release-of-detained-journalist-frenchie-mae-cumpio-1416">Activists call for release of detained journalist, human rights advocates</a></div>“A careful review of the evidence at hand, moreover, reveals that there is a dearth of reason to believe that the respondents-appellants were or are connected to the CPP-NPA,” the CA said, adding the respondent-appellants were employed.“The Court cannot countenance the hasty labelling of human rights advocates as terrorists and the speedy confiscation of their funds and property in the name of national security. Measures to counter terrorism must not be done without due process, and at the expense of individuals, groups, and civil society organizations that are engaged in the promotion and defense of human rights,&quot; the decision read.CA said the quick confiscation of funds and properties in the name of national security, without strict observance of the guidelines in the Anti-Terror Act and other relevant laws, would also be equated to the same evil the ATA sought to avoid.The amount was placed under the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and ordered its forfeiture after Manila RTC&#x27;s ruling, but CA argued “nowhere in the ATA or in the ATA-IRR is a mere AMLC certification or any kind of affidavit sufficient to justify the filing of an action for civil forfeiture under the TFPSA.&quot;<div> </div><div>&#x27;CLEAR REBUKE OF MISUSE OF COUNTERRORISM LAWS&#x27;</div>The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) welcomed the decision, stating the court found that AMLC failed to prove that neither the two arrested individuals or the seized funds were connected to terrorism.&quot;The Court clarified that under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and its Implementing Rules, the AMLC may only conduct a “permissible investigation” into properties or funds of designated or proscribed individuals and organizations,&quot; NUPL said in a statement.&quot;Since Cumpio and Domequil were neither designated nor proscribed, and there was no evidence that they were linked to any such organization, the AMLC’s investigation and the subsequent forfeiture case were impermissible and unlawful,&quot; it added.NUPL emphasized that CA&#x27;s &quot;landmark decision&quot; is a &quot;clear rebuke of the misuse of counterterrorism laws&quot; to repress critical advocacies.&quot;The Court’s decision is a clear rebuke of the misuse of counterterrorism laws to suppress activism, journalism, and humanitarian work. It affirms that defending human rights and reporting the truth are not crimes. This victory belongs not only to Frenchie and Marielle, but to all journalists, church workers, and human rights advocates whose commitment to truth and justice persists amid persecution,&quot; it said.In the past, activists and progressive groups had called for Cumpio and Domequil&#x27;s release, along with the rest of other Tacloban 5 members, stressing that the charges were supposedly made to silence journalism and human rights advocacy work.Cumpio, who has been jailed for over 5 years, was recently nominated among six journalists and media outfits from around the world for the Courage Prize in the 33rd Annual Press Freedom Awards of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The appellate court stated there is lack of reason to believe the two are connected to the New Peoples Army (NPA), advising authorities to refrain from "hasty labelling" of human rights advocates as terrorists.

The appellate court stated there is lack of reason to believe the two are connected to the New Peoples Army (NPA), advising authorities to refrain from "hasty labelling" of human rights advocates as terrorists.

CA reverses forfeiture case vs. journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, lay worker Marielle Domequil

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CA reverses forfeiture case vs. journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, lay worker Marielle Domequil

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 06, 2025 04:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Frenchie Cumpio

Marielle Domequil

Tacloban 5

Court of Appeals

CA

Anti-Money Laundering Council

AMLC

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