A sanctioned mission, but might it have also been a suicide mission, to fly out into the pre-dawn without night vision equipment or training? It's a tough question, but a very valid one - and here's what the commander had to say:
Reporter
"Are the helicopters equip with night vision or are the pilots equip with night vision equipment?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"The helicopters aren't equip, however the pilots do conduct night flying especially along the coast."
Reporter
"Is there preliminarily from a cursory inspection of the craft, I know its still in the water, but is there any indication if the helicopter was fired upon or if it just apparently ended up in the lagoon?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"I don't know. We haven't seen anything. We await the investigation to confirm whatever, because it's still partially submerged."
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Minster of National Securty
"Absolutely no evidence at this point to indicate that the aircraft was brought down or shot down or anything to that effect. However, as we said before, there will be a full fledge investigation that would consider everything. No stone will be left unturned. The commissioner of police has already offered to provide a team of officers to assist with the investigation to ensure that if there was any kind of foul play then we could investigate that. But to this date we cannot give you any categorically acceptable answer to indicate what made the helicopter come down."
Reporter
"But sir, if you don't have night vision equipment, aren't you sending them on a suicide mission?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega
"They fly at night."
Reporter
"I'm saying that it is advised?"
Felix Enriquez- CEO, Ministry of National Security
"There is an investigation going on as to what was the exact condition at the time. Our pilots are very stringent about when they fly in terms of safety of the aircraft. They have been ordered not to fly unless they are absolutely sure about the conditions and they could operate in those conditions and they would not have left unless they felt confident that they were in such a position."
Reporter
"What was the last known point of contact or position with that team? Is that known in this case?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"Yes, the helicopter was over the site during the operation."
Reporter
"At what time, are you able to say?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"About 04:30 there about."
Reporter
"Was there any distress call received?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"We didn't received any."
Reporter
"Was there any communication at all from that aircraft that morning?"
Brig. General Steven Ortega, Commander BDF
"Yes we had. Nothing indicative of anything wrong."
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