Jan Cuyco, 25, a fact-check journalist with Agence France-Presse in Manila, died on Dec. 8 after a monthlong illness; the cause has not been disclosed. Her family described her as a "gentle soul" whose memory will continue to guide them. Cuyco joined AFP in 2023 to verify digital misinformation, uncovering reused earthquake footage and misattributed protest videos. She graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman, was a Friedrich Naumann Foundation fellow, and interned at Rappler; a funeral service is scheduled for Dec. 13.
AFP Fact-Check Journalist Jan Cuyco Dies at 25 After Monthlong Illness; Family Calls Her a "Gentle Soul"
LeetchiJan Cuyco
Jan Cuyco, a 25-year-old member of Agence France-Presse’s (AFP) fact-checking team in Manila, died on Dec. 8 after a monthlong illness, her family and an online memorial fundraiser confirmed. The nature of her illness has not been publicly disclosed.
Her family remembered Cuyco as a "gentle soul" whose quiet but deep love left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. In a statement shared by the fundraiser, they wrote:
“She was a gentle soul whose love radiated quietly yet deeply, leaving an imprint on everyone fortunate enough to know her. While her absence leaves an unimaginable ache in our hearts, we are comforted knowing she is now at peace, surrounded by light and grace.”
Career and Work
Cuyco joined AFP in 2023 as a digital verification journalist, focusing on debunking misinformation and disinformation circulating in the Philippines. Her fact-checking work included identifying reused footage of earlier earthquakes that was being falsely presented as the Sep. 30 quake in the Philippines, and exposing videos wrongly labeled as Philippine anti-corruption demonstrations that actually showed protests in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
On her LinkedIn profile she described herself as "passionate about equipping the public with strong verification skills, one story at a time." Before joining AFP, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of the Philippines Diliman and was a journalist fellow with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. She also interned at Rappler, where she worked with the business and economics team.
Tributes and Arrangements
Rappler published a tribute on Dec. 10, offering condolences and remembering Cuyco’s contributions during her internship. Family members confirmed she is survived by her mother, Jeanette; her father, Chito; and her older sister, Fatima.
A funeral service was announced for Saturday, Dec. 13. AFP and Cuyco’s sister were contacted for additional comment, according to the original report.
If you wish to support the family, an online memorial fundraiser has been shared by relatives and colleagues.
