bY: AP and Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos
MARAWI – An Australian journalist said he was fine after being hit by a bullet in his neck Thursday while covering the military’s assault against militants aligned with the Islamic State group here.
A tweeted video showed ABC journalist Adam Harvey wearing a neck brace and putting on his helmet after receiving treatment Thursday in this city. He told reporters he was fine and that he was to get an X-ray.
ABC’s Southeast Asia correspondent who is based in Indonesia was hit at the provincial capitol building, where government officials have given statements to the media about the progress against the militants who’ve laid siege to this city since last month.
“Thanks everyone – I’m okay. Bullet is still in my neck, but it missed everything important,” Harvey tweeted.
Dr. Jose Eric Laya said the bullet was lodged below Harvey’s left ear.
Malacañang yesterday reminded members of the media covering the armed conflict here to always look after themselves first before pursuing a dangerous story follwing the incident.
According to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, media will always pursuit a story no matter how dangerous but he reminded them to stay out of trouble.
The 24-day siege here has left 202 gunmen, 58 soldiers, and policemen, and 26 civilians dead.
The most serious attack in Southeast Asia so far by IS-aligned militants has displaced most of the more than 200,000 residents of this city, the bastion of Islamic faith in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.