Philippines: State continues to persecute voices of dissent, arrests journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio

PHILIPPINES, Tacloban, February 8, 2020 – Filipino journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio has been arrested along with four human rights activists on February 6. She was taken into custody during simultaneous raids across the Tacloban city targeting journalists and human rights activists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Frenchimae’s arrest and demand authorities to release her immediately.

Frenchiemae is a correspondent of Altermidya Network and Eastern Vista. She was arrested after the military and police raided two offices of groups known for their leftist positions. All the arrested individuals have been “accused of illegal possession of firearms”.

The Philippine’s army has labelled Frenchiemae as Communist Party of the Philippines’ high ranking officer, which is said to be a very dangerous allegation. She is a journalist who has reported on human rights abuses in the Eastern Visayas region, including the victimization of the peasant communities by the military. The region has been under de facto martial law since the Memorandum Order 32 released in November 2018.

Considering the state of press freedom in the Philippines, it is concerning to see journalists, especially women journalists, being arrested and put behind bars. Their legal persecution exposes the state’s involvement in suppressing freedom of speech in the country.

A report released by the military stated that the alleged raid “identified Communist Terrorist Group safe houses” in the city. However, Karapatan - an alliance working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines - have stated that the arms and explosive devices recovered by the military were “planted in the rooms”.

The manner in which Frenchiemae has been arrested shows how intolerant the state is towards women journalists in the Philippines who are only doing her job. Independent media has long been the target of the state. Till date, Maria Ressa and her independent media outlet, Rappler, faces persecution by President Durterte’s government. Read our statement.

A few days before her arrest, Frenchiemae informed her colleagues at Altermidya that she was being followed by men on motorcycles and feared that they belonged to the military. The men were also seen patrolling the office of Eastern Vista. It was also reported that an unidentified man visited the same office on January 31. He reportedly had a band of flowers and Frenchiemae’s photo with him.

The fact that Frenchiemae was being tailed by unidentified men and subsequently got arrested is extremely worrying. We are concerned for her security and demand for her immediate release.

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The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world, and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

Follow us on Instagram @womeninjournalism and Twitter @CFWIJ. Our website is WomenInJournalism.org and we can be reached at press@womeninjournalism.org