Frenchie Mae and Marielle’s 6-year battle

There was meals ready for detained journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio at house on the day her mom Lhalha thought she was lastly going to be free.

It was anticipated on Friday, January 23, 2026. The day after the promulgation of her terrorism financing, and unlawful possession of firearms and explosives instances was going to be her birthday. 

“Anim na taon na hindi siya namin nakasama sa birthday niya…tama na po. Sakto na po ‘yong anim na taon,” Lhalha Cumpio advised Rappler on Wednesday, January 21. (It’s been six years of us not with the ability to be along with her for her birthday…That’s sufficient. Six years is already sufficient.)

The households of Frenchie and her companion, lay employee Marielle Domequil, gathered for a Mass on the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban Metropolis on Wednesday evening.

Lhalha prayed the toughest she might, she stated, in hopes of seeing her little lady away from the bars that had lengthy separated them. It was Lhalha’s prayer to see Frenchie reunite and play along with her three youthful brothers as soon as extra.

On the church, a brief program was held for Frenchie and Marielle. Amongst these to guide was Lhalha and Marielle’s sister, Kyle.

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Kyle by no means forgot the day that modified all the pieces. It was imprinted in her thoughts and he or she did all the pieces to recollect.

February 7, 2020, was the day authorities arrested Frenchie, Marielle, and the remainder of the “Tacloban 5” over their alleged unlawful possession of firearms and insurgent ties. It was the day Kyle misplaced Marielle.

“Minsan napapahinaan ng loob na kumilos pero sinasabi ko sa sarili ko ‘wag kalimutan — February 7, 2020,” Kyle stated. (Generally I really feel discouraged to take motion however I inform myself to not overlook — February 7, 2020.)

Guarantees and ache

The Domequil siblings, Iris, Kyle, and Marielle, share a bond constructed on guarantees and ache. This bond they share is named sisterhood.

Kyle advised Rappler that even after six years in detention, Marielle nonetheless desires to serve the plenty, regardless of the risks and what she had been by way of.

“Earlier than, gusto ko na maging physician. Ngayon, gusto ko maging abogado, maging organizer, group chief, kung ano man ang ginagawa ni Ate Marielle at Ate Frenchie,” Kyle stated.

(Earlier than, I wished to be a physician. Now, I need to be a lawyer, an organizer, a group chief, no matter it was that Ate Marielle and Ate Frenchie had been doing.)

Iris, the youngest of the sisters, admires Marielle and Frenchie a lot in order that they’ve participated in a number of youth-led rallies towards corruption at UP Diliman, carrying her sister in her coronary heart all through each name for justice.

It’s the Domequil sisters’ dream to someday be collectively in a rally, even when just for a quick second past courtroom hearings and jail visits. 

These goals are essential to their moms, Marietta Domequil and Lhalha Cumpio. If sisterhood is constructed on guarantees and ache, motherhood for them is hoping that guarantees are stored and ache is swapped with goals granted.

Sadly, these goals must wait somewhat longer.

On Thursday, January 22, Decide Georgina Uy Perez of Regional Trial Court docket Department 46 in Tacloban Metropolis sentenced Frenchie and Marielle to 12 to 18 years in jail for terrorism financing.

Separation

At round 9:10 am on Thursday, Frenchie and Marielle stepped out of the courthouse.

Their masks and security helmets couldn’t conceal the tears of their eyes and but their fists had been nonetheless raised as they made their exit. 

Lhalha held on to her sons, whereas Marietta held on to her daughters. As they watched Frenchie and Marielle go away with jail officers, they shouted: “Palayain si Frenchie Mae Cumpio! Palayain si Marielle Domequil! (Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio! Free Marielle Domequil!)

The message was robust: Separated however not defeated.

Whereas they had been convicted of terrorism financing, the choose had dismissed the unlawful possession of firearms and explosives case towards them. 

“Malaking bagay po ‘yong acquittal namin sa firearms and explosives case. Patuloy pa tayong lalaban (The acquittal of the firearms and explosives case was an enormous factor for us. The combat goes on),” Frenchie stated in a video taken by Kodao Productions on Thursday morning.

Kyle carried the identical sentiment throughout a press convention on Thursday, after the promulgation, saying that they’d nonetheless gained part of the justice they thought was going to be delayed.

“Bilang isang nanay, napakabigat ‘yung nararamdaman na hindi namin siya makakasama (As a mom, it’s such a heavy feeling figuring out that we are able to’t be along with her),” Lhalha advised Rappler on Thursday afternoon.

Lhalha shared that they’d already ready a birthday shock for Frenchie at house, however celebration plans needed to be placed on maintain.

Essentially the most painful half, the mom added, is that they knew they’d not be allowed to go to Frenchie on her grand day as household visitations usually are not allowed on the Tacloban Metropolis Jail on Fridays.

Regardless of how the moms felt that day, Lhalha and Marietta nonetheless visited Frenchie and Marielle Thursday afternoon, if solely to carry their daughters and put together for future battles.

On her twenty seventh birthday, the sixth one she’s had in detention, Frenchie wrote the poem, Sa Hindi Pagbitaw (On Holding On), initially printed on Kodao Productions. The final a part of it learn:

Muli, salamat (Once more, thanks)
Sa hindi pagpapadaig sa pananakot ng mga uhaw (In not succumbing to the intimidation of those that thirst)
At kahit tila hindi sigurado sa araw-araw (And even when unsure daily)
Maraming salamat sa hindi pagbitaw (Thanks for holding on).

– Rappler.com