COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 23 November) – Nineteen journalists from print, radio, television, and online media across the Visayas embarked on a transformative journey through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) from November 19 to 22, 2024, under the Inside BARMM: A Walk Through the Bangsamoro Region initiative.
This program was conducted as part of the Media Impact Philippines project, a collaboration between the Mindanao Institute of Journalism (MinJourn) and International Media Support (IMS), with funding from the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
The initiative aimed to deepen journalists’ understanding of BARMM’s complex history, peace processes, political landscape, and cultural diversity. The timing was crucial as the region prepares for its first-ever Bangsamoro Parliament elections in 2025.
During the tour, participants visited key sites such as Camp Darapanan, the Bangsamoro Government Center, the Bangsamoro Parliament, the Sultan Bolkiah Mosque, the Pink Mosque, and the Ampatuan Massacre site.
They engaged in dialogues with leaders from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Parliament members, and representatives from BARMM ministries, including the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education, Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, Ministry of Trade, Investments, and Tourism, and the Bangsamoro Information Office. These discussions provided crucial insights into governance, peacebuilding, education reforms, economic development, and media practices in the region.
A defining moment of the tour was the visit to the Ampatuan Massacre site in Maguindanao del Sur, where journalists paid tribute to the victims and reflected on the continuing threats to press freedom, journalist safety, and impunity.
This first edition of the Inside BARMM tour coincided with the 15th anniversary of the massacre, the deadliest attack on journalists in history, where 58 individuals, including 32 media workers, were brutally killed on November 23, 2009. The tragedy underscored the perils of reporting in conflict-affected areas and the ongoing struggle for press freedom and journalist safety in the Philippines.
For many participants, the experience reinforced the critical role of independent media in upholding democracy and ensuring accountability.
“Standing on the very ground where our colleagues were silenced reminds us that journalism is more than just storytelling—it’s about speaking truth to power, even at great risk,” a participant said.
For these journalists from Visayas, the tour was particularly significant. Many Visayan families have historical ties to Mindanao, tracing their roots to government-sponsored migration programs during the early 20th century. This connection provided an emotional and cultural bridge, enabling participants to explore not only contemporary issues in BARMM but also their own regional histories intertwined with Mindanao.
“BARMM’s diversity is often misunderstood as a source of conflict, with some believing the region is solely for Muslims,” said Ricky Bautista, editor-in-chief of The Samar Chronicle, during the tour’s culmination night. “By understanding Mindanao’s complex history, especially for those of us from its neighboring region, we can report more accurately and avoid harmful stereotypes. This isn’t just a Mindanao issue—it’s a national one. As Kapatid Rommel said, ‘The pain of the little finger is the pain of the whole body.’” (MindaNews)
