FREE FRENCHIEMAE CUMPIO!
Today marks the 11th month since community journalist and former College Editors Guild of the Philippines — Eastern Visayas Coordinator, Frenchiemae Cumpio, together with four other human rights defenders, was unjustly detained with fabricated charges last February 7, 2020, by state forces under the fascist regime of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Cumpio, executive director of Eastern Vista and anchor of the block time radio program ‘Lingganay han Kamatuoran’, was listed on One Free Press Coalition’s ’10 most urgent cases of journalists under threat’ around the world for October 2020, along with Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa.
Last December 10, International Human Rights Day, another journalist has been illegally detained over trumped-up charges. She is Lady Ann Salem of Manila Today.
The College Editors Guild of the Philippines calls for the immediate and safe release of Frenchiemae, Lady Ann, and all journalists unjustly detained. We hold the Duterte regime accountable for all the crimes he has committed against the fourth estate. We also call on all press freedom advocates, campus publications, and Filipinos to fight against the unending state’s red-tagging and criminalization of dissent. Our battle for genuine press freedom continues.
Hands off journalists!
