Yt Framework

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will provide security escorts for journalists and foreigners when visiting the region or on a news coverage to ensure their safety.

"Whether they like it or not, we will provide them security," ARMM's Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman said in an interview with local reporters in Lamitan City.

Governor Hataman was the keynote speaker during the opening program of the 29th Lami-Lamihan Festival in Lamitan City, Basilan Province last Tuesday.

He said visitors, both foreign and Filipino visitors, to the ARMM area will soon need to follow or comply with any security directives from the authorities for their own good.

"We are adopting a policy that requires journalists and foreign visitors to have security escorts when visiting the region or on a news coverage," the ARMM's OIC governor added.

The security policy also aims to prevent a repeat of the incident involving a Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani and two Filipino crewmen.Rolando Letrero and  Ramelito Vela.

The three went missing and were later confirmed hostages by the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf under the group of Radullan Sahiron in the province of Sulu.

Authorities later learned that Atyani’s group went to an Abu Sayyaf camp to conduct interviews for a documentary and the three were no longer allowed to leave.

According to Hataman, the provision of security is not intended to limit the movement of journalists but to ensure their safety. He further said that the policy also aims to protect the image of the region.

“ARMM's image will always be affected and tarnished if something happens to them while they are in the region,” he added.

Hataman urged journalists and visitors to always coordinate with the ARMM local government officials upon arrival for them to be guided accordingly.

He also planned to adopt a security measure that restrict journalists from conducting exclusive interviews in critical areas.

By Hader Glang