Legal Cooperation Cluster Press Statement
- Jan 23
- 2 min read
January 22, 2026
In a well written Judgment dated January 14, 2026, penned by Presiding Judge Georgina Uy Perez, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 45 of Tacloban City has found Marielle A. Domequil and Frenchie Mae C. Cumpio GUILTY BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT for Violation of Section 8(iii) of Republic Act No. 10168, or the “Terrorism and Financing and Suppression Act of 2012”. Both Domequil and Cumpio were convicted and sentenced to suffer imprisonment from twelve (12) years, five (5) months and eleven (11) days, as minimum, to eighteen (18) years, eight (8) months and one (1) day, as maximum, and to pay a fine of PhP 500,000.00 each.
In its Judgment, the RTC has meticulously sifted through the indisputable pieces of evidence. Through the powerful testimonies of numerous eyewitnesses and the overwhelming amount of pieces of evidence, the RTC found that Domequil and Cumpio had indeed conspired and confederated with one another in providing funds and ammunitions, in the tune of PhP 100,000.00 cash, two (2) boxes of .45 ammunitions, twelve (12) pieces of shotgun ammunitions, and tapetas (long pants), to members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), a designated terrorist organization, in San Andres, Catbalogan City, Samar on March 29, 2019.
The LCC lauds with the Filipino people in this historic Judgment. We commend the Presiding Judge, Georgina Uy Perez, for exhibiting utmost excellence and impartiality in rendering a just Decision. Despite all the pressures from the media, several foreign personalities and groups, and from other so-called “human rights defenders”, the Presiding Judge, true to her oath, rendered a compelling Judgment – based not on emotions but on the cold, hard, and incontrovertible law and evidence on record. This is a monumental proof that the wheels of the Philippine justice system are truly spinning and working.
The LCC also congratulates the Department of Justice, as well as the prosecutors in Region VIII and Tacloban City, who, working in coordination with LCC under the Whole of the Nation Approach, successfully presented and marshalled in court the numerous pieces of evidence that resulted in dispensation of justice. The LCC also commends the bravery of the prosecution witnesses, who, despite threats to their lives and well-being, still appeared in court and told nothing but the truth. Last but not the least, the LCC commends the military, the police officers, and other law enforcement agencies who brought Domequil and Cumpio to face justice.
Let this be a reminder that while crime does not pay, the criminals do. The LCC reminds the public of the wasted lives brought by the CPP-NPA – to the ones who were killed, and to those who were duped and imprisoned and had their futures destroyed due to a misguided but a dangerous cause. Together with the government and the Filipino People under the Whole of Government Approach, the LCC will continue to work tirelessly day and night to ensure the dispensation of justice and to end the misery and wasted lives and futures caused by communist terrorism. *****
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