UN Particular Rapporteurs urge courts to launch Frenchie Cumpio, Marielle Domequil

‘Frenchie and Marielle need to be free to struggle for justice,’ 5 UN specialists say

CEBU, Philippines – 5 UN Particular Rapporteurs dealing with varied human rights points urged Philippine courts to provisionally launch journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights defender Marielle Domequil, on Thursday, March 5. 

The decision was made by UN Particular Rapporteurs Irene Khan, Ben Saul, Gina Romero, Mary Lawlor, and Margaret Satterthwaite.

Khan is Particular Rapporteur on the promotion and safety of the suitable to freedom of opinion and expression. 

Saul is Particular Rapporteur on the promotion and safety of human rights and elementary freedoms whereas countering terrorism. 

Romero is Particular Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of meeting and of affiliation. 

Lawlor is Particular Rapporteur on the scenario of human rights defenders. 

Satterthwaite is Particular Rapporteur on the independence of judges and attorneys.

The specialists emphasised Cumpio and Domequil’s prolonged detention and the supposed lack of due course of of their case.

“Frenchie and Marielle have suffered six years of pre-trial detention and a fraught authorized course of with a string of prices which have been broadly criticised as baseless and in retaliation for his or her human rights work. At a minimal, they need to be launched on bail whereas they pursue their attraction,” the UN specialists mentioned.

“Given the intense issues concerning the unconscionable size of time that the 2 younger girls have already spent in detention and the dearth of due course of, but additionally a chance now of provisional launch, we urge the court docket to grant them bail with none additional delay,” they added. “Frenchie and Marielle need to be free to struggle for justice.”

Cumpio and Domequil have been in detention for six years since their arrest on February 7, 2020. They’d been red-tagged and charged with unlawful possession of firearms and detained with out bail. A year-and-a-half after their arrest, financing terrorism was added to their prices.

Cumpio and Domequil have been convicted of terrorism financing on January 22, and face 12 to 18 years of imprisonment. Their petition for bail was denied on February 13 in a call signed by Tacloban Metropolis Regional Trial Courtroom Department 45 Choose Georgina Uy Perez. 

The United Nations Human Rights Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner (OHCHR) defines Particular Rapporteurs/Impartial Consultants/Working Teams as “impartial human rights specialists appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.” 

“Collectively, these specialists are known as the Particular Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Particular Procedures specialists work on a voluntary foundation; they don’t seem to be UN employees and don’t obtain a wage for his or her work. Whereas the UN Human Rights workplace acts because the secretariat for Particular Procedures, the specialists serve of their particular person capability and are impartial from any authorities or organisation, together with OHCHR and the UN,” the UN workplace mentioned. 

The Committee to Defend Journalists (CPJ) welcomed and echoed the calls of the UN specialists. 

“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his administration should now heed the decision, or the worldwide group will proceed to protest this flagrant injustice,” CPJ Asia-Pacific Director Beh Lih Yi mentioned. 

On February 13, the CPJ nominated Cumpio for the 2026 Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in recognition of her braveness, dedication, and protection of press freedom. 

The Free Tacloban 5 community additionally welcomed CPJ’s nomination.

“This affirms that makes an attempt to silence important voices won’t erase the very important position of journalists in holding energy to account and defending the rights of the Filipino folks,” the group wrote in a Fb put up. – Gwyneth Antonio/Rappler.com

Gwyneth Antonio is a Areas Rappler intern and a senior anthropology scholar from the College of San Carlos.