THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is reviewing allegations of ill-treatment and abuse of detained broadcast journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and human rights activist Mariel Domequil at the Tacloban City Jail Female Dormitory.
In a statement released to reporters yesterday, the commission said it has asked the CHR Regional Office 8 to investigate the condition and circumstances of the two female detainees, as well as their co-accused human rights advocate Alexander Philip Abinguna.
The three have been fighting their arrest in 2020 on charges of illegal possession of firearms, claiming the evidence was planted by arresting officers.
The CHR said it has been notified that Cumpio and Domequil have experienced serious delays in the provision of medical attention, the processing of consent forms for trial monitoring, and the approval of visits from media and diplomatic representatives.
“In line with its mandate to investigate alleged human rights violations in places of deprivation of liberty, the CHR has coordinated with the concerned city jail and its wardens to address these complaints. The matter has been referred to the CHR Regional Office VIII for investigation,” it said.
Relatives and supporters of the two have also decried the deprivation of their right to confer privately with their legal counsel.
The CHR said it received information of the denial of their confidential communication with legal counsel, as well as unlawful intrusion, including their personal letters being opened or withheld.
The UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, in her 2024 report on the state of freedom of opinion and expression in the Philippines, had earlier urged the government to address the circumstances surrounding the continued detention of Cumpio, Domequil, and co-accused Alexander Philip Abinguna.
“CHR reiterates that the Philippine government bears the duty to uphold the rights and dignity of all persons, including those deprived of liberty. Compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol requires duty-bearers to actively safeguard the welfare of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and ensure their humane treatment,” the commission said.
It added that the case of Cumpio and Domequil reflects broader systemic issues faced by many PDLs nationwide.
The CHR reiterated its call for the creation of a National Preventive Mechanism, an independent body tasked with preventing torture and other forms of ill-treatment in detention facilities. In support of this goal, the newly launched Bantay Bilangguan campaign advocates for vital reforms to strengthen protections in places of detention.
“CHR assures the families and supporters of Cumpio, Domequil, and Abinguna that it remains actively engaged in the investigation and in advocating for their rights. A prompt and impartial resolution of this case is essential to strengthening accountability and reaffirming the country’s commitment to human rights,” the commission said.
