CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (August 21) — With two major elections looming, the government’s media security task force is stepping up efforts to keep journalists safe on the field.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is supporting a three-day safety training here, as reporters gear up for coverage of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections and the Nov. 2 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.
“Press freedom cannot be realized if our media practitioners are not safe in covering the field,” PTFoMS Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said.
Now on its second year, the training—held Aug. 19 to 21—continues a partnership between PTFoMS, the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) Journalism Institute, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
This year’s run draws support from the BARMM government, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (host), and the Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO-10).
About 40 journalists from various media outfits are taking part, focusing on safety protocols, risk awareness, and field preparedness in potentially volatile assignments.
At PRO-10 headquarters, Brig. Gen. Christopher Abrahano reaffirmed that media protection is embedded in police protocols. Torres also pointed to Abrahano’s earlier stint in Caraga, where authorities resolved a case involving the killing of a media worker.
PTFoMS stressed that closer coordination between police and media groups is critical, especially as election coverage intensifies in areas with security risks.
As campaign season heats up, organizers say the goal is simple: keep journalists safe—so the public stays informed.
