Observe safety protocols, media covering Marawi conflict urged

What a legend – Dr Emmanuel Ibay – spent an hour teasing bullet from my neck. It stopped 1cm from the carotid artery. ‘Home run’ if it hit. pic.twitter.com/EJfpo16TVm

— Adam Harvey (@adharves) June 16, 2017

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Friday urged the media covering the Marawi conflict to follow safety precautions after an Australian journalist was injured by a sniper bullet.

“The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines enjoins our colleagues now covering the battle in Marawi City to strictly observe safety protocols in light of the reported injury sustained by Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s Adam Harvey yesterday,” Dabet Panelo, NUJP secretary-general said in a statement.

Harvey was injured on the left side of his neck while he was covering the evacuation center at the Lanao del Sur Capitol on Thursday morning.

In his Twitter account, Harvey said he was flown to Manila for surgery.

“I’ve been flown to Manila for surgery to remove the bullet. Doc glanced at X-Ray and said ‘M-16’. They know their slugs here,” his Twitter post read.

He said the bullet “stopped 1cm from the carotid artery,” saying it would’ve been a “home run if it hit.”

READ: Australian journalist shot, hurt in Marawi

Harvey’s wife, Eliza, said in her Twitter account that her husband was already “out of surgery.”

“Morning comes with great news. @adharves is out of surgery in Manila, the big bullet has been removed and no further damage done,” her post read.

NUJP said the “the incident starkly shows how dangerous the situation is for journalists on the ground.”

“May we remind our colleagues to never abandon media safety procedures, especially near where the fighting is happening,” Panelo said.

“May we also ask the security forces in Marawi to further ensure the journalists’ safety as their presence in Marawi and the work they do are vital,” he added. IDL/rga