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February 18, 2026 | 2:54pm
Frenchie Mae Cumpio (R, wearing yellow), a detained Filipino journalist, and her former roommate Marielle Domequil (L, wearing yellow) arrive at Tacloban Regional Trial Court in Leyte island on January 22, 2026, to attend the promulgation of her court case.
AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa
MANILA, Philippines — A Tacloban court denied the motion for bail filed by journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Mariel Domequil, who were recently convicted of violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.
In an order dated February 13, the Tacloban Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45 ruled that the accused failed to provide "strong or compelling" reasons to justify their temporary liberty following their conviction.
“Foregoing considered and after a careful evaluation of the records and the prevailing circumstances, this court finds no strong or compelling reason to justify the grant of bail during the period to appeal,” the court’s ruling read.
In their joint motion for bail, the defense argued that Cumpio and Domequil had actively participated in all court proceedings and showed no intent to evade the law.
They provided certifications of good moral character from the Tacloban City Jail and argued that their acquittal in the explosives case should allow the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail.
Furthermore, they signaled their intent to challenge the constitutionality of the "terrorist designation" used against them, arguing that presidential proclamations cannot unilaterally designate individuals as terrorists.
Court ruling. In the court’s ruling, the RTC pointed out that while bail is a matter of right before conviction, it becomes a matter of judicial discretion after a person has been found guilty.
The court noted that a heavy prison sentence naturally increases the incentive for a convict to flee.
“Due to the severe penalty imposed, there is a heightened incentive to evade custody,” the court said.
“Moreover, the fact that the two accused are connected to various organizations, significantly heightens the risk of evasion. Their affiliations allow access to broader networks, logistical support and financial or material resources that can facilitate concealment, movement, or escape from lawful custody. This raises concern that if released, the accused may use these connections to evade the execution of judgment,” it added.
The court further stated that terrorism financing is a grave offense against the Filipino people and the law of nations, which weighs heavily against the grant of provisional liberty.
“The seriousness of the offense for which the accused were convicted, raises concern regarding the potential for them to continue to provide support - whether financial, logistical or operational, to terrorist organizations, if they are released on bail,” the court’s ruling read.
“To the mind of the court, the potential for continued involvement in such activities, weighs heavily against the grant of bail,” it added.
The court also dismissed the defense's reliance on a previous acquittal in a civil forfeiture case, stating it had no bearing on the current determination of bail.
RELATED: CA voids forfeiture case vs journalist Cumpio, activist Domequil
It said that because the case is moving toward an appeal, it is more "prudent and judicious" to defer the final determination of their entitlement to bail to the Court of Appeals.
Cumpio and Domequil’s conviction. The current motion stemmed from a January 22 judgment that found both Cumpio and Domequil guilty of violating Section 8 (ii) of Republic Act 10168.
Human rights organizations labeled this conviction a "miscarriage of justice.”
RELATED: 'Web of lies' used to convict journalist Frenchie Cumpio, say rights groups
The court sentenced each of them to an indeterminate prison term ranging from 12 years and five months to 18 years and eight months, alongside a fine of P500,000 each.
While the two were acquitted in a separate case involving the illegal possession of explosives, they remained in detention due to the terrorism financing conviction.
The verdict came after more than six years of detention for Cumpio and Domequil, arrested in a February 2020 raid that rights groups say was designed to punish the journalist's coverage of military abuses in Eastern Visayas.
