Timeline reconstructed by the Inquirer based on the different versions
JANUARY 24 (SATURDAY)
2300 – About 392 SAF commandos at the Army 45th Infantry Battalion checkpoint. 84th SAF assault team and 55th SAF blocking force go to the marshland.
JANUARY 25 (SUNDAY)
0430 – 84th SAF assault team reaches hideout of Marwan and Usman, enters a nipa hut, engaging in a firefight wherein Marwan is killed; messages Tactical Command: “Mike One, bingo”
0500 – 84th SAF comes under fire from all directions as they pull out. SAF Commander Napeñas informs Armys Maj. Gen. Eduardo Pangilinan and PNP Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina of the ongoing police operation.
Article continues after this advertisement0600 -The 84th SAF group are able to get out of Tukanalipao village while the 55th group blocking force gets into a gun battle with Moro rebels.
Article continues after this advertisement0700 – Radioman of the 55th SAC, the main effort Two, asks for reinforcements.
0830 -The Army’s mechanized brigade arrives in the area and meets SAF forces who remained behind and did not enter the marshland. They do not know their comrades’ coordinates and locations.
0920 – Troops of the 23rd and 14th Mechanized Brigades and the 62nd Division Reconnaisance Company linked up with elements of the 55th SAF troops in Barangay Tukanalipao.
1030 – Second encounter, this time between the 55th SAF blocking force positioned in an open cornfield and the MILF rebels who surrounded them. They are immediately wiped out.
1100 – Army reinforcement in the marshland met with sniper fire.
1200 – The SAF commandos are still alive. Many are wounded and they are running out of ammunition.
1300 – The radio turns silent.
1730 – Under heavy fire from MILF rebels, Army reinforcement team fires several rounds on the other position; MILF rebels retreat.
1800 – Army reinforcement proceeds to look for SAF survivors and remains.
1900 – Army retrieves the remains of the first SAF casualties. Army radios to inform the remaining 300 SAF commandos that everything was clear. They then move in and help the Army in retrieval operations.
2000 – Army reinforcements locate 38th SAF commander and remaining members of his team and extracted them safely.
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