The Sniper of Marawi

Corporal Mike knew right away that he had hit the high value targets. He had fired on several figures escaping to Lake Lanao under the concealment of darkness in the early hours of October 16, 2017. The shots were taken from a sniper position on the third floor of a building overlooking the intersection leading to the hideaway of rebel leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkayam Maute. The surrounded fugitives were earlier anticipated to leave their lair and make a dash towards the lake. Although it would take another five hours or so until daylight to finally confirm the identities of the targets, Corporal Mike already knew in his heart that he had shot dead the Islamist rebels responsible for the siege of Marawi that lasted five months.

Corporal Mike is an alias and his identity is a well-guarded secret. While the battle for Marawi is over, for him, there is no real closure yet. He is a marked man, sought by those who wish to retaliate and harm him. I don't know what he looks like. His face was permanently concealed by a balaclava he kept on the entire duration of our meeting.

The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on him. He would have preferred that someone else had actually taken down the two rebel leaders. He wished he had not been the one. He lives with the reality of being hunted. Settling down is difficult. A normal life is almost impossible with the constant threat on his life. There is no real peace of mind.