RMP National Office

26/01/2026

In just one month of 2026, many peace and human rights situations have moved our hearts to prayer. It is important to continue to join together and respond as a community that defends life and works for genuine peacebuilding based in justice.

MANINDIGAN Campaign invites your participation in a very timely forum:

MANINDIGAN! People’s Pushback
8:30-11:30am, January 29, 2026
Malate Catholic Church Conference Hall
Our Lady of Remedies (Malate Church)
2000 Del Pilar Street, Malate Manila 1004

In this forum, we will seek to bring together our moral imperative to work for peace and justice with testimonies of those who have been recently affected by situations of ‘unpeace’ and violations of human rights.

23/01/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲:
𝗥𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗠𝗣 𝗹𝗮𝘆-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:10)

In light of the disturbing news on the unjust conviction of Marielle Domequil and Frenchie Mae Cumpio, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines sound the alarm on the implications for other journalists and mission volunteers. When anyone can be subjected to fabricated and manufactured testimony, the dangers of mission and the risks in helping marginalized communities grows significantly.

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 continue to believe in them, to stand by them, and to accompany them as they will surely appeal this unjust conviction for supposedly violating the Terrorism Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

We appeal for all people of faith and good will to join us in prayer that this decision will be overturned. As we have witnessed in recent months, 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, in the months ahead.

Even as we grapple with our profound sense of frustration and disbelief at this unjust ruling, we know that Marielle and Frenchie did not commit the acts presented before the court.

We remain committed to pursuing justice alongside them, bolstered by our hope that, in time, lies will unravel and the truth will prevail.

The protection of media freedom, civil liberties, and the cause of missionaries is under threat. Now is the time to stand together with Marielle and Frenchie.

𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗻 5!
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗠𝗣 𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗹!
__________________________________________
RMP Leadership Team
22 January 2026

22/01/2026

𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞,
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧.
𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫?
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝?
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠?

𝐖𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬.
𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬.
𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬.
𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐮𝐬, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬
𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐲?

𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞.
𝐖𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞.
(from this morning's vigil for Marielle and Frenchie in Manila)

The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines expresses disbelief and discontent with this morning's RTC judgement against RMP lay worker Mariel Domequil, finding her liable for terrorism financing under the Terrorism Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

As we await further wisdom from their legal counsels, RMP continues to stand with Mariel and Frenchie, asserting that the weaponization of terror laws must be ended and that so-called 'evidence' presented against them was untrue.

We pray for God's intervention on their behalf, that they may soon be freed from this persecution.

21/01/2026

21 January 2026
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧 5

With the promulgation near, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines call for the immediate and unconditional release of lay worker Marielle Domequil and journalist Frenchie Cumpio. We pray that they, along with Alexander Abinguna, Mira Legion and Marissa Cabaljao who were also arrested February 7, 2020, will be freed from the politically motivated charges against them.

These individuals are being punished not for any legitimate crime, but for exercising their fundamental rights — including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and dissent. The proceedings in the court have demonstrated that the charges were clearly trumped-up and lacking credible evidence. The last 6 years have been a grave injustice.

The imprisonment of activists for speaking out or organizing peacefully is nothing less than an attempt to silence criticism and intimidate communities. Such actions corrode the rule of law, betray democratic principles, and erode public trust in institutions that exist to protect — not persecute — the people.

Authorities will do best to acquit Marielle and Frenchie of all charges and release them without delay. Upon release, they must also ensure their safety and well-being.

In addition, those responsible for fabricating charges and weaponizing the law to suppress dissent should be held accountable. Justice cannot exist where repression replaces the rule of law.

𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐧 5!
𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐑𝐌𝐏 𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐥 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

Reference:
RMP Leadership Team, , FB: RMP National Office

20/01/2026

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released."
(Luke 4:18-19)

Marielle and Frenchie testified that in the pre-dawn raid, a first ‘entry team’ frisked them and declared the area ‘clear.’ The team then took them from the room and held them in the kitchen. After about 15-20 minutes, a second, ‘search team’ led Marielle and Frenchie back into the bedroom, where planted evidence was found when the warrant was served.

Free Tacloban 5



Thank you to the Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, DD, Bishop of San Carlos and President of Caritas-Philippines for this prayer and solidarity!

22/08/2025

12/08/2025

Support Indigenous Peoples!

On Saturday, August 9, 2025, Bishop Gerry Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos and Vice-Chair of the Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace addressed a forum for the UN International Day for the World's Indigenous Peoples:

In essence, our Indigenous Peoples are marginalized. We IGNORE their cultures. The majority IGNORES cultural minorities because it benefits us... it is to our advantage, our gain, our comfort.

We IGNORE their suffering.

The Church has been complicit. This was included in a pastoral statement that the CBCP released just a few days ago:

'[W]e are reminded of the enduring wounds of historical injustices, particularly the disturbing land dispossession suffered by our indigenous peoples. The Church acknowledges its past complicity and seeks to redress these wrongs, guided by the call to ‘pursue justice, and only justice… that you may live and inherit the land’ (Dt. 16:20)'.***

+Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, DD
Bishop of San Carlos
Vice Chair of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace
----------------------
***Pastoral Letter on the Plight of the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Communities especially the Molbog and Cagayanen in Palawan, CBCP, 6 August 2025

04/08/2025

🙏💕

26/07/2025

Relief distribution in Brgy. San Jose, Navotas affected by the habagat from Typhoon Crising. Thank you Congregation of Major Superiors in the Phils for your unwavering support during this habagat season. Our deepest gratitude.Padayon!🙏💕

14/05/2025

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said he gives his full support to the new Pontiff's call for the release of journalists jailed "for seeking and reporting the truth" such as Frenchie Mae Cumpio.