WATCH: SAF team leader's account vital to Mamasapano probe – Board of Inquiry

Special Action Force (SAF) assault team leader Supt. Raymond Train's account of the Mamasapano clash was vital to the investigation into the gunbattle, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and Board of Inquiry chairman, Director Benjamin Magalong, said on Monday.

"Siya ang nandoon sa lugar kaya talagang 'yung mga information na kailangan namin ay marami siyang maibibigay na importanteng impormasyon tungkol sa nangyari sa loob," Magalong told GMA 7 news program "24 Oras".



It was Train made the decision to assault the safehouse in which Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, was staying in, despite having only having 12 commandos with him. The balance of his team was delayed at a river crossing.

Train was injured by the booby traps Marwan had set around the safehouse. However, Magalong said that Train's shrapnel wound to the left arm has healed.

Train was also the SAF commando who secured Marwan's finger, which was cut off by Sr. Insp. Gednat Tabdi for later DNA analysis and identification. Tabdi was one of the 44 polices officers killed in the clash.

Train did not attend Monday's Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash. — Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/DVM, GMA News