MANILA, Philippines - Early on Jan. 25, commandos of the police Special Action Force 55 Seaborne unit cross the river in Mamasapano at around 2:30 a.m (230H).
Some two hours later, only 13 of the police commandos make it to the other side of the river. Supt. Raymond Train and his men decide to push on.
0450H – After a long walk, Train and his men finally reach the target location, using handheld GPS devices with coordinates provided by SAF commander Director Getulio Napeñas.
Marwan opens fire at the raiders. The policemen fire back, fatally hitting Marwan in the chest.
The raiders then enter the hut and Senior Inspector Gednat Tabdi severs Marwan’s index finger for DNA.
Other policemen take pictures of the scene and the slain target.
0530H – Train and his team retrace their route to meet up with remaining members of the 84th and the 55th company, who serve as a blocking force.
Train then calls up the tactical center to report Marwan has been neutralized, “Mike, Bingo.”
0800H – The first engagement with rebels begins. For several hours the policemen literally hug the earth, crawling for safety under sniper fire.
1200H – Many are hit by snipers from all directions.
1300H – Mortar attacks begin, literally wiping out most of 84th SAF Seaborne troopers.
One by one, the police commandos cry out for help from Napeñas to send reinforcements.
1400H to 1500H – The rebels continue their mortar attack, bombing positions of the SAF policemen who take cover from heavy gunfire.
Some of Train’s men are able to fire back but this reveals their position to the enemy.
1800H – Government artillery arrives. Most of Train’s team are wounded; eight were supposedly counted as killed.
2330H – “We found them, they survived.” A special team deployed to extricate Train’s men reach the area via helicopter. The surviving SAF troopers are all pulled out by 1:30 a.m.