Belize and Guatemala continues investigation into massacre
On Wednesday, the Requena family told the media that they had called off the search for Julio Requena Junior. Today and probably in their first official announcement on the matter, the government says it will continue to look for the missing skipper and their investigations into the massacre continues. Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security told News Five about a coordinated operation that was launched and involved the Belize Police, the Belize Defence Force and the Guatemalan Police.
Jorge Espat, Minister of National Security
“Since the incident, there has been joint operations between the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Police Department, the Maritime Wing, the Airwing of the Belize Defence Force have assisted, we have sent down Senior Superintendent of Police, Bernard Lino to Punta Gorda Town, and has been monitoring the situation, doing the investigation, liaising in informing individuals. On Sunday we approved a coordinated effort between the Police Department and the Belize Defence Force and the Guatemalan Police and we continue to search for Julio Requena. So the operation continues and we have not found Mr. Requena’s body and we have no new report to give except that the operation continues and as we speak the BDF and the Police Department are continuing their operation to search for Mr. Requena.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So at this time there is a motive, no sightings of the boat?”
Jorge Espat
“There has been no sightings of the boat. There have been several tips, which led to the coordinated effort between Belize and Guatemala, but there have been no sightings of the boat, they have not apprehended anyone. We are not sure what was the motive. There has been some reports of drugs, robbery and again Senior Superintendent Lino is looking at those various leads and I don’t think the Belize Police Department is ready to say what they believe motivated the 3 individuals to use the guns and the knives.”
In the meantime, the Requena family has scheduled a memorial service for Julio Requena, Junior. That service will take place on Saturday in Punta Gorda Town.
