Recto urges media to prioritize safety during BARMM poll coverage

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— With the historic Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections fast approaching, the national government called on the media to prioritize safety while serving as “fearless guardians of the vote” during coverage of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro polls.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, in a message delivered during the opening of a three-day Safety and Security Training Workshop for Media Personnel on Wednesday here, pointed out that credible elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) “hinge on the safety and integrity of journalists on the ground.”

“A free press cannot be truly free if it operates under intimidation, harassment, or fear,” Recto said. “The safety and security of every journalist and media worker is a fundamental concern of this administration.”

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At least 30 journalists from across Northern Mindanao gathered at Camp Edilberto Evangelista, the headquarters of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Barangay Patag, to undergo specialized security and protocol training ahead of the Sept. 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary polls.

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Recto warned of heightened threats of disinformation and electoral tension, urging reporters to verify facts aggressively and reject sensationalism.

“In an election environment, every headline, image, and social media post can influence public perception. Accuracy and impartiality must therefore guide every story,” he said, adding that truthful reporting serves as the strongest defense against efforts to manipulate the democratic process.

The training workshop is organized by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club Journalism Institute in partnership with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, Smart Communications, and Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation. /mcm