Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
by Miriam Garcia Desacada
TACLOBAN CITY — The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45 here has convicted Marielle A. Domequil and Frenchie Mae C. Cumpio for violation of Section 8(iii) of Republic Act No. 10168, otherwise known as the Terrorism Financing and Suppression Act of 2012.
Presiding Judge Georgina Uy Perez, in a judgment dated 14 January 2026, found the two accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced each to an indeterminate prison term of 12 years, five months and 11 days as minimum to 18 years, eight months and one day as maximum. The court also ordered them to pay a fine of ₱500,000 each.
The court said the prosecution was able to establish, through testimonial and documentary evidence, that Domequil and Cumpio conspired to provide financial and logistical support to the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), which is designated as a terrorist organization under Philippine law.
According to the ruling, the accused delivered ₱100,000 in cash, two boxes of .45 caliber ammunition, 12 rounds of shotgun ammunition, and clothing items described as “tapetas” or long pants to members of the CPP-NPA. The transaction allegedly took place in San Andres, Catbalogan City, Samar, on March 29, 2019.
The court noted that several eyewitnesses testified on the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the funds and supplies. Judge Perez wrote that the prosecution’s evidence was “clear, consistent, and corroborated,” sufficient to overcome the defenses raised by the accused.
In its decision, the RTC emphasized that conspiracy may be inferred from the coordinated acts of the accused, showing a common design to commit the offense charged. The court ruled that the items delivered constituted material support intended to further the activities of a terrorist organization, thereby falling squarely within the acts penalized under the law.
Following the promulgation of the decision, the Legal Cooperation Cluster (LCC) issued a statement welcoming the conviction, which it described as “a historic judgment.”
LCC further said: “This is monumental proof that the wheels of the Philippine justice system are truly spinning and working,” as it commended Judge Uy-Perez for utmost excellence and impartiality in her decision, despite media pressures, foreign groups and so-called “human rights defenders.”
Judge Uy-Perez “rendered a compelling judgment based not on emotions but on the cold, hard, and incontrovertible law and evidence on record,” said LCC on its public statement.
The LCC also commended the Department of Justice and the prosecutors in Region VIII and Tacloban City for presenting the evidence that led to the ruling, and acknowledged the role of law enforcement agencies in the investigation and arrest of the accused.
The LCC further cited the participation of prosecution witnesses who testified in court despite what it described as threats to their safety.
The CPP-NPA has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Philippine government, and individuals found to have provided it with financial or material support face criminal liability under Republic Act No. 10168.
The judgment however is still subject to post-trial remedies available to the accused under the Rules of Court. —Miriam Garcia Desacada
