Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio faces new murder charges from 2020

Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been held in pre-trial detention since February 2020 on charges of 'illegal possession of firearms' and 'financing terrorism', which Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says are based on fabricated evidence.

Recently, RSF uncovered another case against Cumpio where she is accused of participating in an ambush that led to the deaths of two soldiers; these new murder charges were filed in January 2020 but remained dormant until recently.

According to RSF's investigation, no material evidence links Cumpio to the ambush site and the accusations are based on testimonies from former communist rebels who claim she was personally involved in recruiting members for the New People's Army (NPA).

The Philippine Commission on Human Rights had also opened an investigation into the murder case at the request of the soldiers' families but later closed it due to lack of evidence.

RSF condemns this legal harassment and calls on Philippine authorities to end the abuse of the justice system against a renowned journalist, who faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

If found guilty, Cumpio may face additional charges for double murder and multiple attempted murder, with no clear information provided about who filed these new cases.