And, whoever gave the instruction must have been touched by Anthony "Boots" Martinez's guardian angel.
That's because the ultimate result of this morning's fiasco is that the former minister ended up being spared from testifying, perhaps indefinitely.
But as we told you he didn't escape the media and after an initial interview "Boots" ended up in a one-on-one with Krem's Marisol Amaya.
So, while he may have been skinning his teeth on his way out of the house of culture, if you asked him tonight he might say that while he got out of the frying pan, he went straight into the fire.
Anthony "Boots" Martinez - Former Minister "No man, not for a low price."
Reporter "Yes, a very low price."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez "That vehicle, listen to what I'm saying, you know the vehicle?"
Reporter "I've seen it."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez "That vehicle crash already you know, that vehicle was a salvage vehicle, so you don't know it, you only see it."
Reporter "Sir you have the papers to show that government bought a salvage vehicle..."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez "No, listen, that vehicle was also assigned to the Ministry of Health, that wasn't a vehicle I had throughout, we need to get our facts together you know. I don't to be with none because this is not the commission of inquiry and so I will leave that."
Reporter "If the chairman has told you, you were to return another time?"
Anthony "Boots" Martinez "He said whenever, if there the commission is constituted, then I shall return."
Reporter "If they don't keep the union commissioner then it's just going to break up."
Anthony "Boots" Martinez "Well, I don't know and that is not a question for me, that's a question for the union."
So, when will Martinez testify? Well, the Chairman says they will not re-convene until and unless the union comes back to the table - so the Commission stands adjourned.
