21/01/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐
๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ โ๐๐๐ฒ๐โ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ
On February 7, 2020, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) forcibly raided the rented room of human rights defenders Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle โMayeโ Domequil, subsequently arresting both under the pretense of illegal fi****ms, ammunition, and explosives possession alongside a flag allegedly linked to the CPP-NPA-NDF. Collectively, they have since been dubbed: ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ง ๐
๐ข๐ฏ๐ along with Alexander โChakoyโ Abinguna, Mira Legion, and Marissa Cabaljao, albeit the latter two being on bail.
Before their arrest, Frenchie and Maye were visible, principled civic leaders. Marielle Domequil worked with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, served as Vice Chairperson of the UP Tacloban Student Council, and advanced LGBTQ+ rights through Gabriela Youth. Frenchie Mae Cumpio on the one hand, was the Executive Director of Eastern Vista an independent media outlet, and former Editor-in-Chief of UP Vista, the official student publication of the UP Tacloban College.
For years prior to their arrest, both endured harassment, surveillance, and death threats โ clear warning signs of a state apparatus hostile to dissent.
Such acts set a dangerous precedent as normalizing state surveillance and violence against activists has not only voided due process but is also a stark disregard for human rights. This means that no activist, journalist, student, or ordinary citizen is safe when dissent is treated as a crime. When dissent is criminalized, freedom of speech becomes conditional, press freedom becomes a target, and civic participation becomes a risk. Between July 2016 and June 2021, at least 414 activists and community organizers were killed, and 497 more survived attempted assassinations โ orchestrated by the state.
As of January 21, 2026, it has been 2,177 days since the illegal arrest of Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil. Nearly six years stolen from their families, their communities, and the causes they served. Their promulgation dates are set for their two remaining charges: January 22nd for alleged illegal possession of fi****ms and explosives, and February 9 for so-called financial terrorism.
But we assert this without hesitation:
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
UP Politikons will not remain silent as activists, journalists, and students are hunted under the guise of law. We refuse to accept repression as normal. We demand an end to political persecution.
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
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๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐!
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๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐!