PNP SAF trooper: "Bakit ang tagal ng reinforcement?"

"May nagsasabi na wala na si Cordero (PO2 Roger Cordero), patay na. Mamaya, may nagsasabi na naman na wala na si Tayrus (P/Insp. Rennie Tayrus), patay na. Nagsisigaw na ng 'Sir, reinforcement, Sir? Wala ba tayong [casualty] evac, Sir? Saan na yung reinforcement natin, Sir?' Sigaw ng mga wounded na kasama ko," a member of the 84th Seaborne or the assault team of the Oplan Exodus, told GMA News, on condition of anonymity.

 

"Ako rin, sumisigaw din ako. Bakit ang tagal ng reinforcement? Bakit walang tutulong sa atin," the SAF trooper said in a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" report on Monday..

 

The SAF commandos never thought of surrendering, he said.  Forty-four of the SAF troopers involved in the Mamasapano assault died.

 

"Binantayan namin yung mga patay namin, kaming mga wounded, binatayan kami ng mga hindi sugatan, walang aatras, walang magsu-surrender. Mamatay na tayong lahat dito," the SAF trooper said.

 

Only one, out of the 36 members of the 55th Special Action Company, was able to survive, while nine were killed out of the 38 members of the 84th Seaborne.

 

The SAF trooper told GMA News what happened on Jan. 25, starting from the time the group reached the hut of Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan before 4 a.m.

 

He said about 10 meters away from Marwan's hut, they saw that Marwan was awake and lit a light.

 

"Bago kami makarating dun mga 10 meters nagising siya, nag-ilaw siya dun, umiilaw siya sa amin, mga one minute siguro pinatay niya ilaw so nagkaroon na ako ng chance para lapitan ko," he said.

 

He said the plan was the operation will not last longer than an hour to arrest Marwan but it did not happen as booby traps exploded.

 

"Malapit lang, parang sa taas ko lang sumabog eh. Naramdaman ko na namanhid na yung likod ko doon pero nakaputok pa rin ako, isang magazine inubos ko... may sumabog ulit, bumagsak na ako doon, lupaypay na dalawang kamay ko," he said

 

Even before sunrise, enemies have started firing at them.

 

"Yung security nila pumuputok din, tapos dun sa bandang bahay ni [Basit] Usman pumuputok din, wala na low morale na ako nun kasi hindi ko maangat yung baril ko, hindi ko na mai-shoot yung magazine sa chamber, mga dala kong explosive binigay ko sa mga kasama ko. Hanggang sa nag-command yung ground commander namin ng 'Assualt!" na pasukin na yung bahay," he said.

 

He said five commandos went inside Marwan's hut.

 

"Pagkasabi ng "Bingo!" ibig sabihin kuha na yung target, high morale ako doon. Pinilit ko nang tanggalin yung Kevlar [helmet] ko, yung vest ko, kasi hindi ko na maangat yung katawan ko," he said.

 

He said he was assisted by the PO2 Nicky DC Nacino Jr. to stand up.

 

"Si PO2 Nacino yung namatay, inalalayan ako na tumayo para withdraw na kami sa ilog," he said. "Ang laki pala ng sugat ko sa likod. Kasi hindi ko naramdaman parang manhid yung buong likod ko."

 

He said enemies followed them.

 

"Unti-unti kaming mag-move. Maraming sumusunod sa amin na kalaban nagsisigawan sila puro 'Allahu Akbar' ang sinisigaw parang nagmamass-up na sila narinig na namin yung putukan, yung burst ng putok dun sa kabilang side. 55th na pala yung binabanatan," he said.

 

He said they saw civilians flee their houses.

 

He said at noon, enemies still continued firing at them.

 

They felt that it would already be the end of their life.

 

He said according to the plan, the 84th Seaborne or the main effort team was supposed to be with the blocking force or the 55th Special Action Company, but this did not happen.

 

He said the SAF troopers felt hopeful every time they heard the 55th SAC were still fighting with the enemies.

 

"Everytime na lalakas yung putukan, tsina-challenge namin yung 55th kung sumasagot pa sila sa challenge namin, meron kaming challenge para sumagot sila, sa putok kami nag-uusap, nung sumasagot pa yung 55th, medyo high morale pa rin ako," he said.

 

"Ang naiisip ko makakalabas pa rin kami at umaasa sa reinforcement, pag abante namin, binakbakan pa rin kami, minortar kami. Matagal kami sa area na yun hanggang sa hindi na sumasagot yung 55th sa amin," he said.

 

At 3 p.m., he said some of the enemies went near them and laughed at them.

 

"May nakalapit na lang noong alas-tres na ng hapon (January 25) kasi in-assault nila kami. Parang ipi-finish na nila kami akala nila siguro patay na kami lahat doon. Sabay-sabay silang lumapit sa amin... Ang lakas ng sigaw nila. Tumatawa pa," he said.

 

He said he already thought that he won't be able to survive.

 

"Sari-sari na yung iniisip ko. Mabuhay pa ba ako dito o hindi, para na akong patay. Wala man lang ako magawa," he said.  — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza/ELR, GMA News