MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has officially blocked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) from forfeiting over half a million pesos seized from community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and church worker Marielle Domequil.
In a decision promulgated on April 13, 2026, the appellate court’s Third Division denied the AMLC’s petition to reverse a previous 2025 ruling. The court found no factual or legal basis to forfeit the ₱557,360 confiscated from the two women during their 2020 arrest in Tacloban City, citing a lack of proper terrorist designation.
The CA decision, penned by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr., emphasized that the state cannot seize assets without following strict procedural requirements under current anti-terrorism laws:
- Requirement for Designation: The court ruled that a “prior and proper designation or judicial proscription” is indispensable for any forfeiture action related to anti-terrorism. Since Cumpio and Domequil were not officially designated as terrorists on any government list, the state has “no business meddling” with their assets.
- Applicability of the ATA: While the AMLC argued that the case fell under the 2012 Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act, the CA pointed out that the petition was filed after the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 took effect, making the newer law’s stricter requirements applicable.
- Lack of Evidence: The court noted “no proof” of suspicious financial activity and gave “little weight” to the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, describing them as uncorroborated and requiring “extreme caution.”
Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Marielle Domequil were part of the “Tacloban 5,” a group of activists arrested during simultaneous raids on February 7, 2020.
- The Charges: The two were accused of financing terrorism by allegedly providing cash and ammunition to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Samar in 2019.
- Conviction Status: Despite this victory regarding their seized funds, the Tacloban Regional Trial Court recently affirmed their conviction on terrorism financing charges based on testimonies it deemed credible. It remains unclear how the CA’s ruling on the money will affect their ongoing legal battle against the conviction itself.
The CA’s decision is being viewed by advocacy groups as a critical check on the government’s use of anti-terrorism laws against activists and journalists:
- Protecting Private Assets: The ruling reinforces the principle that criminal charges alone do not grant the government the right to seize property without following due process and formal designation protocols.
- Community Journalism: Cumpio, an editor for Eastern Vista, has been the subject of international calls for release, with organizations characterizing her detention as an attack on press freedom.
As the legal proceedings continue, this appellate victory provides a significant hurdle for the AMLC and highlights the complex interplay between the 2012 financing law and the 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act. For Cumpio and Domequil, the return of the seized funds marks a rare legal breakthrough in a case that has spanned over six years.