“The primary person responsible for your safety is yourself.”

Journalist safety trainer JB Deveza emphasized this during the Davao City leg of the Capacity Building for Journalists in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) implemented by the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and funded by the British Embassy Manila through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).

The training program sought to equip journalists covering BARMM with knowledge and skills in protecting themselves from physical, legal, digital, psychosocial, and gender-based threats and attacks, and how to address disinformation through fact-checking as they carry out their work as media practitioners.

In Davao, 22 male and female journalists from Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, South Cotabato, and Marawi City participated in the training in February 2024.

The resource persons for the Davao leg were Kath Cortez of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Prof. Rufa Cagoco-Guiam of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Atty. Froebel Kan Balleque of the General Santos City LGU, Mr. Red Batario of the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), Mr. JB Deveza of NUJP/Xavier University, Ms. Len Olea of NUJP, Ms. Rowena Paraan of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), and Ms. Julie Alipala of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.