In a significant development for press freedom advocacy, imprisoned Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio has been nominated for UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, one of journalism’s most prestigious international recognitions. The 27-year-old journalist, detained for over six years, was convicted on January 22 on controversial “terrorism financing” charges that press freedom organizations describe as fabricated allegations designed to silence critical reporting.
Global media watchdogs including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Free Press Unlimited have jointly endorsed Cumpio’s nomination, characterizing her as “an icon of press freedom in the Philippines” whose case represents the dangerous climate facing journalists in the region. Cumpio previously served as executive director of news site Eastern Vista and hosted programs at a local radio station before her arrest in Tacloban City on February 7, 2020, alongside four other activists.
The prosecution’s case relied on military assets who testified they witnessed Cumpio providing financial support to communist armed groups in Samar—accusations she consistently denied throughout judicial proceedings. Notably, the court acquitted her of separate illegal firearms and explosives charges on the same day it delivered the terrorism financing conviction, highlighting the contradictory nature of the legal actions against her.
Supporters maintain that the charges constitute retaliation for Cumpio’s investigative work exposing human rights violations committed by military forces. Her reporting prior to arrest focused extensively on documenting abuses against marginalized communities, making her a target for authorities seeking to suppress uncomfortable truths.
In January, RSF and the #FreeFrenchieMaeCumpio coalition mobilized 90 press associations and unions worldwide to petition Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for her immediate release. Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF’s Asia-Pacific advocacy manager, stated: “Cumpio embodies the resilience of today’s journalists in the Philippines. She should be celebrated as a national icon helping shape the country’s journalism—not imprisoned on the basis of fabricated charges.”
Established in 1997 to honor Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza, who was assassinated for his reporting in 1986, the UNESCO award recognizes outstanding contributions to press freedom advocacy, particularly under dangerous circumstances. The winner receives a $25,000 monetary award, half of which Cumpio could potentially use to secure bail pending appeal if she receives this year’s prize. The announcement will coincide with World Press Freedom Day observances on May 3.