Board of Inquiry: Marwan set off bombs vs. PNP-SAF commandos

Source: youtube/gma news

Suspected terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan knew that government troops were about to pounce on his Mamasapano hideout when police commandos from Philippine National Police-Special Action Force's 84th Seaborne surrounded his hut before dawn of Jan. 25, the PNP Board of Inquiry has said in its preliminary report.

 

According to an exclusive GMA News report on "24 Oras" on Tuesday, it was around 4 a.m. when Supt. Raymond Train and ten other SAF troopers attacked Marwan's safehouse even when the other members of the team was still on their way to the area after being delayed by strong current while crossing a river.

 

The report said Train was injured when Marwan detonated the booby traps that surrounded his hut. 

 

In the subsequent firefight, the police team killed the suspected Malaysian bombmaker who, as one of the leaders of the Jemaah Islamiya, has been described as Southeast Asia's Osama Bin Laden.

 

The commandos took a picture of the dead Marwan and a finger for DNA analysis and identification. They also seized his .45 caliber pistol and M-16 rifle.

 

It was one of the Fallen 44, Sr. Insp. Gednat Tabdi, who took the finger and turned it over to the team leader Train.

Six hours to Marwan's place

 

According to the BOI's preliminary report, the PNP-SAF set off for their mission as early as 10 p.m. of Jan. 24.  

 

It took six hours for the first group from the 84th Seaborne of the SAF's Rapid Deployment Battalion to get closer to Marwan's hideout. 

 

Another group from the 84th Seaborne was supposed to go after the first group but they were delayed while crossing a river. 

 

After the first group neutralized Marwan, it managed to join the second group and entire 84th Seaborne team was instructed to meet the 55th Special Action Company, the strike team's blocking force. 

 

This 55th SAF Company unit was waiting in a cornfield but was already engaged in a firefight against Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters when they were supposed to meet the members of the 84th Seaborne.

Brutality in a cornfield
 

More than 35 bodies of SAF commandos were retrieved from the cornfield later on. 

 

Only PO2 Christopher Lalan survived from the 55th SAF Company. He said his comrades were brutally killed by the rebel group. 

 

The 84th Seaborne team also fought against rebel groups from the target area and nine of them died and six were injured.

The clash lasted the whole day of Jan. 25.

 

According to two SAF commandos who sketched for GMA News the positions of the troops during the clash, several SAF companies were posted two to three kilometers from each other. 

 

The 55th and 45th SAF companies were supposed to meet the 84th Seaborne but they could no longer leave their post because they were under attack.

The other companies involved could no longer leave their positions as other MILF and BIFF forces could enter the encounter site and cause more damage to the policemen.

A source, who is part of the investigation, revealed that it was only at 5:30 p.m. that the MILF and BIFF retreated when mediators managed to call for a ceasefire.