June 15, 2017•Update: June 15, 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
An Australian journalist has been wounded while covering the crisis in Marawi in the southern Philippines as fighting between government forces and Daesh-linked militants entered their 24th day on Thursday.
Adam Harvey, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Southeast Asia correspondent based in Jakarta, Indonesia, was taking footage and interviewing evacuees inside the Lanao del Sur capitol complex on the southern island of Mindanao when was hit by a stray bullet in the neck, according to GMA News Online.
“Thanks everyone - I'm okay. Bullet is still in my neck, but it missed everything important,” Harvey posted on Twitter.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, in a news briefing at Malacañang in Manila on Thursday, also told reporters that Harvey was hit by a sniper bullet, making him the first journalist hurt in the Marawi crisis.
Abella asked journalists in Marawi to stay out of trouble and to be objective in their reports. "I think they should be as objective as possible and see it in the context that this is basically an action of rebellion. Stay out of trouble," he was quoted saying.
Harvey underwent X-rays and further medical evaluation at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center. His crew joined him en route to the hospital, the report said.
Local radio stations reports said Harvey earlier removed his bulletproof vest so he could squat and take better photos at the capitol ground, located far from the conflict areas, where government agencies converge and journalists are stationed.
Holdouts in the city and brothers
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is facing challenges in its operations against the Daesh-linked terrorists who laid siege to Marawi on May 23. It is already employing all its military equipment but the terrorists still remain in some parts of the city.
More than 200 people -- including civilians, members of the Maute group, and nearly 60 government soldiers -- have died.
Meanwhile, one of the Maute brothers was arrested Thursday at a checkpoint near the coastal area in Cagayan de Oro City in the northern part of Mindanao.
Mohammad Noaim Maute, alias Abu Jadid, is a senior member of the Daesh-linked terror group. He is the younger brother of Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, who are leading the fight against government troops in Marawi.
The Maute brothers' father and mother were arrested in Davao city and Masiu, Lanao del Sur, respectively.
Maute is included on a list issued by the Philippines Defense Department as among 300 suspected members, spies, and couriers of Daesh-linked groups, including Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
President Rodrigo Duterte put the whole island of southern Mindanao under martial law following the siege of combined followers of the Maute brothers and Isnilon Hapilon on May 23 to stamp out the threat of Daesh.
