A United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur has called on the Philippine government to give a prompt and fair trial to detained community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who “has been left to languish in detention.”

Irene Khan, the international body’s special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, expressed dismay at what she called as “unjustifiably long pre-trial detention” of Cumpio, who has been behind bars since February 2020.

Cumpio, a Tacloban City-based community radio broadcaster known for covering alleged human rights violations in the country, was arrested in the middle of night inside her residence. She was subsequently charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives and financing terrorism—the charges she denied.

“The arrest and criminal charges, following months of ‘red-tagging,’ surveillance, intimidation and harassment, appear to have been filed in retaliation for her work as a journalist,” Khan said in a statement dated Nov. 11.

“Frenchie has a right to a prompt and fair trial. I trust that the court will review her case and in the absence of substantial evidence of the crime committed, will dismiss the charges against her and order her immediate release and appropriate compensation,” she added.

The rapporteur said that the Philippine government has already taken almost half a decade to prepare a case against Cumpio.

That, itself, raises serious questions about the fairness of the process, Khan said.

“During my visit to the Philippines in January 2024, I heard many similar stories of ‘red tagging’ followed by arrest on fabricated charges for serious offenses and prolonged detention to harass journalists and human rights advocates and I have conveyed my serious concerns to the government,” she said.

Khan said the imposition of non-bailable charges and subsequent extensive pre-trial detention of critics of the government was “an unacceptable practice.”

It “must come to an immediate end,” she added.

Khan said it is in contact with the Philippine government on the matter.