03/08/2026
๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐: ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ-๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐
๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ
3 August 2026 - PRESS STATEMENT
๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. (Matt. 5:10)
Risks and dangers in helping marginalized communities grew significantly with Marielleโs conviction. As they file the appeal to their conviction for supposedly violating the Terrorism Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, we continue to stand by them, said Rural Missionaries
Last January 2026, alarm for journalists and mission volunteers spread, as news of the disturbing and unjust conviction of Marielle Domequil and Frenchie Mae Cumpio reached mission areas. Rural Missionaries of the Philippines joined with many civil-society organization in lamenting the resulting vulnerabilities for mission workers.
Anyone can be subjected to fabricated and manufactured testimony, like Marielle was. Persecution of those who help the poor will only further exacerbate the miserable situation of already under-served and marginalized rural communities.
The charges against Marielle and Frenchie were always about more than the truth. These young women were attacked for their activism. They were subjected to a middle-of-the-night raid and search, that was always intended to disrupt their ministries and their service with the poor.
We appeal for all people of faith and good-will to continue in prayer, that this decision will be overturned at the Court of Appeals.
Public outcry can contribute significantly in helping uncover injustice in our country. We pray that this will also be the experience for Marielle and Frenchie; we pray that the fabricated evidence against them will be exposed as such.
As we still grapple with a profound sense of disbelief that they were convicted in the first place, we remain committed to pursuing justice alongside them, bolstered by our hope that, in time, lies will unravel and truth will prevail. Marielle and Frenchie did not commit the acts presented before the court.
Media freedom, civil liberties, and the protection of missionaries would be best served in the dismissal of the conviction. We pray that the Court of Appeals will see the truth and act in Marielleโs and Frenchieโs favor.
Free RMP lay worker Marielle Domequil!
