But, somewhere in the midst of Valdez’s investigation, he suddenly stopped looking at the questionable nationalities that were granted in the Arthur Saldivar files.

The Senate tried to find out why and failed, no matter how hard they pushed him. He refused to reveal what happened why he suddenly became more interested in finding out how the files left the Immigration Department, and ended up in Saldivar’s hands. Here’s the back and forth on that one:

Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator
"You were actually stopped?"

Julio Valdez - Retired Police Superintendent
"No."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Can you clarify for us what was put in the public domain? There is a quote that is apparently taken from your report which was sent to the DPP which says you referred to those same irregularities that you found and you said after follow up was done on this and question asked about these discrepancies, this line of investigation did not continue due to instructions no other follow up was made, it remained as is. What do you mean by the fact that the investigation did not continue based on instructions."

Julio Valdez
"The main concern was that I should follow up the missing documents out of the immigration department."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"You're going into a house to investigate a burglary and you find a dead body. You said you would drop the burglary or differ it and give priority to the murder. Here you are saying to us that you are looking at how the files went missing in the process of that you find serious irregularities. Why then would you divert back from investigating the serious irregularities back to how these files got missing?"

Julio Valdez
"It is not that I diverted, I wasn't doing the same thing. The missing documents, the immigration and the nationality."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"You write due to instructions no other follow up was made with respect to the line of investigation of the discrepancy."

Julio Valdez
"Yes I did not continue to follow that line."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Who instructed you not to?"

Julio Valdez
"I choose not to answer that at this time."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Sorry?"

Julio Valdez
"I choose not to answer that at this time."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Why?"

Julio Valdez
"Because the concern were and I quite agree the report was from the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Mr. Valdez you are testifying that you found serious irregularities. You write a report and in the report you say these discrepancies, this line of investigation did not continue due to instructions. I am sure you will agree that it is important to understand and to know who so that we can understand why you were instructed not to continue into these serious discrepancies."

Julio Valdez
"Because the first line of investigation was the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"We understand that but you went on to the second and you received instructions not to continue and I want to know who gave you those instructions."

Julio Valdez
"The instructions were deal with the investigation of the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"I understand so back..."

Julio Valdez
"I did not continue the other line of investigation."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"I understand and I'm asking you now who gave you those instructions?"

Julio Valdez
“I will choose not to answer at this time for legal ramifications.â€￾

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
“Alright well let me ask you this; was it a police officer above your rank?â€￾

Julio Valdez
“I will choose not to answer at, I will reveal that I did not follow that investigation and I continued with the missing documents.â€￾

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
“Did you receive instructions from anybody outside the police ranks with respect to this investigation?â€￾

Julio Valdez
“There were no instructions.â€￾

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"What do you mean when you say due to instructions?"

Julio Valdez
"People brought up and say listen concerned with investigation of the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Who is the person or persons."

Julio Valdez
“I will choose not to answer at this time."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Why?"

Julio Valdez
"Because of legal ramification."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"What are the legal ramifications?"

Julio Valdez
"Mr. Senator I have now retired out of the Belize Police Department, I am a civilian now. I do not want to be dragged back into court and all those things with legal ramifications and the end result to prove that what I said is right. Based on that I choose not to answer at this time. Nobody stop me, there is nothing say to stop me, I did not follow that line."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Due to instructions."

Julio Valdez
"Yes that is how I wrote the report because as your aware because of our department, we have a chain of command, I must report to the higher top. They were aware of what I was doing and they concern was just continue follow the investigation for the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Who were you reporting to?"

Julio Valdez
"I was then attached to Mr. Blackett who was the head NCIB."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"And you gave Mr. Blackett regular updates in the investigation?"

Julio Valdez
"Yes."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Did Mr. Blacket at any time give you instructions as to which way to go with the investigation and which way not to go?"

Julio Valdez
"Mr. Blackett no, I just briefed him on what was going on and what was happening."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Who was above Mr. Blackett?"

Julio Valdez
"The commissioner of police, he was the head of the department."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"Did you brief the commissioner of police?"

Julio Valdez
"No, I brief Mr. Blackett, Mr. Blackett brief the commissioner."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"So let's be clear, Mr. Blackett you are telling us did not instruct you to go one way and not to go another way. Is that correct?"

Julio Valdez
"The concern was that I was dealing with the missing documents. They said concern yourself with the missing documents."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"You are not prepared to tell us who said that?"

Julio Valdez
"No."

Hon. Eamon Courtenay
“And the reason you’re saying is because of possible legal ramification?â€￾

Julio Valdez
“Yes.â€￾