“To ignore this UN ruling is to further slain the Philippines’ record on press freedom, human rights, and democracy.”
CAGAYAN DE ORO — A United Nations (UN) working group considered the immediate release of a detained journalist and human rights workers as the appropriate remedy after it concluded that their detention is arbitrary.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s Opinion No. 22/2026, which was adopted in its 105th session from March 23 to April 1, 2026, concluded that the deprivation of liberty of journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, church worker Marielle Domequil, and human rights worker Alexander Abinguna contravened the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, making it arbitrary. The opinion has been made public recently.
The UN body requested the Philippine government to take the necessary remedy, adding that it should also launch a full and independent investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of the accused.
The three are part of the five individuals arrested in simultaneous raids in Tacloban City—collectively known as the Tacloban 5. The two others, People Surge Network spokesperson Marissa Cabaljao and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Eastern Visayas staff Mira Legion, were out on bail.
Cumpio and Domequil, presently detained at the Correctional Institution for Women, were convicted of terrorism financing in January. Abinguna, on the other hand, is facing alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives and murder charges. He is currently detained at the Tacloban City Jail.
TIMELINE:The prolonged detention of Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio
On October 27, 2025, the UN working group transmitted the allegations against Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna to the Philippine government, requesting the state to provide detailed information about the factual and legal grounds of the accused’s detention by December 2025.
However, the body did not receive a response from the Philippine government, prompting the group to render its opinion—which was recently released—based on the claims submitted by its source.
The UN working group concluded that the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of the three accused is arbitrary under four categories. It stated that their continuing detention has no legal basis considering the absence of the proper presentation of search warrants and the acquittal of Cumpio and Domequil from their charges relating to illegal possession of firearms and explosives, as well as the dismissal of murder charges against the journalist.
It also concluded that the three were prosecuted because of their work as a journalist and human rights defenders, including raising concerns on alleged police and military abuses and the plight of farmers. It also stated that their deprivation of liberty gave an arbitrary character due to their prolonged and continuing pretrial since their arrest in February 2020.
Lastly, the UN body concluded that Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna were deprived of liberty on discriminatory grounds due to their political opinions and status as human rights defenders.
“The Working Group requests the Government to translate, publish, and disseminate the present opinion through all available means and as widely as possible,” a part of the opinion reads.
Human rights alliance Karapatan welcomed the UN body’s opinion, stressing that the courts handling the case of the three accused should be informed regarding the matter. For the group, these conclusions reaffirmed their position that the charges filed against the Tacloban 5 were trumped up.
“The inordinate delay of the court proceedings that has prolonged their detention is an additional layer of injustice against the three. Their release should immediately be given due course,” said Cristina Palabay. Karapatan secretary-general.
For Altermidya coordinator Avon Ang, the UN working group’s opinion shows the Philippine government’s failure to recognize that the imprisonment of Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna is about silencing dissent.
“The Marcos administration and our courts can no longer pretend this is a normal criminal case. The government must immediately release them and end the use of anti?terror laws to target journalists, church workers, and activists,” Ang said in a statement sent to Bulatlat. “To ignore this UN ruling is to further slain the Philippines’ record on press freedom, human rights, and democracy.”
The non-response of the Philippine government raises questions if it would also follow the requests and recommendations of the UN body. (RVO)
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