TACLOBAN CITY—UNITED Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan, is satisfied on the humane treatment the government is giving to an alleged female journalist and her companions who are being held at the Tacloban City jail facility on terrorism-related activities for nearly 4 years now.
This, according to Undersecretary Paul M. Gutierrez, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), which arranged for Khan’s visit and meetings in the province of Leyte and with other agencies of the government.
Khan and her party arrived at the Tacloban airport past 12 noon on Saturday, January 27, 2024, to personally check on the condition of Frenchie Mae Castro Cumpio, Mariel Alvez Domequil and Alexander Philip Dizon Abinguna and were warmly welcomed by government officials headed by Gutierrez.
The three are members of the so-called ‘Tacloban-5’ who were arrested last February 7, 2020, by law enforcement agents armed with search warrants issued by the Tacloban Regional Trial Court.
Found in their possession were two hand grenades, two .45 caliber pistols, ammunitions, a flag of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and cash money amounting to more than P567,000.00.
They were charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives and are being detained since February 11, 2020, at the Tacloban City Jail.
More than one year later, on September 30, 2021, Cumpio and Domequil were slapped with another case of terrorism financing by the Department of Justice (DOJ), another non-bailable offense. Two of their comrades, Mira Dalla Desturia Legion and, Marissa Abayare Cabaljo, were earlier allowed by the court to post bail.
From the airport, the entourage immediately motored to the Tacloban City Jail where they were welcomed by the officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) headed by Regional Director JCSupt. Delvic Oreiro and Female Dormitory Warden JInsp. Fe Reynalda A. Chan
Emerging from her meeting lasting more than one hour, Khan was given a tour of the facility, including the living quarters of Cumpio and Domequil who even gained weight while under detention. The facility is currently holding 37 female PDLs.
Chan also briefed Khan on the BJMP’s current programs for inmates that include their daily routine to combat boredom, Bible studies and livelihood programs such as pastries and cake making.
Satisfied with treatment of Cumpio
Khan was also informed that all detainees have access to regular visits and the BJMP’s ‘E-dalaw Program’ utilizing video calls to talk to their families.
Although Khan arrived while Tacloban City was enduring a 12-hours brownout and a sunny temperature, she was surprised that the entire facility is well ventilated and is not smelling of human sweat, which is common to most congested jails.
Oreiro also impressed Khan by pointing out that the Tacloban City Jail is among the first ISO-accredited facilities in Eastern Visayas, at par with global standards.
In her own hands, Khan described the facility as “excellent,’ noting further that it was “clean” and “well maintained” after filing up the jail’s Client Feedback Form.
It can be recalled that Cumpio, a graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Tacloban, claims to be a “journalist” with a paid (blocktime) program at a local radio station in Tacloban. However, she has been identified as the secretary of the Regional White Area Committee (RWAC) of the CPP in Eastern Visayas.
Domequil, who claimed to be a “lay worker” of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) is a schoolmate of Cumpio and has been identified as a subordinate of Cumpio at RWAC.
Although the prosecution has already rested its case last November, Cumpio’s defense counsels had asked the court to defer all the scheduled hearings for the first two months of 2024 thus moving her trial dates further to March.
Hear us too, please!
Driving on to her next meeting in Palo, Leyte, Khan slowed down on reaching a group of former members of the CPP-NPA near the gate of the Tacloban City Police Office.
The group from the Eastern Visayas Peace Builders and Development Foundation (EVPBDF), are former comrades of Cumpio inside the local terrorist movement who also wanted to meet Khan to hear their side on what they know about Cumpio and her fellow detainees.
They were carrying placards welcoming her arrival, affirming the country’s commitment to freedom of opinion and expression and denouncing the CPP-NPA.
Despite this, Khan merely looked from the window of her van and drove off.