Around 30 journalists from Northern Mindanao covering the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections will undergo a three-day safety training in Cagayan de Oro City next week at Camp Evangelista, headquarters of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. The elections are scheduled for September 14 across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Organized by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club Journalism Institute, the training includes simulations of kidnapping, ambush scenarios, first aid, and tactical combat casualty care to prepare journalists for the volatile election environment. Dr. Manuel Jaudian, the institute’s executive director, emphasized the importance of the training, citing the 2009 Maguindanao Massacre as a reminder of the risks journalists face. The program, supported by Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation, also collaborates with OPAPRU, PTFOMS, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and Smart Communications. Participants will receive updates on the peace process with Moro rebel groups and briefings on BARMM’s electoral process from the Commission on Elections. The training, including free board and lodging, is part of the institute’s annual media safety initiatives since 2018.
