The Veracruz State Congress removed the legal immunity of the mayors of Úrsulo Galván and Ixhuatlán del Sureste, both members of Movimiento Ciudadano, on Wednesday, allowing them to face criminal proceedings related to investigations conducted by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE).
Evaristo Bertín Bravo Montero, mayor of Úrsulo Galván, is being investigated for the alleged forced disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez and his bodyguard, Ignacio López.
Meanwhile, Raúl González Martínez, mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, is accused of being the alleged intellectual author of the kidnapping and femicide of journalist Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez.
During an extended session, the State Congress approved both removal-of-immunity requests with 40 votes in favor and eight against, after determining that the petitions submitted by the Attorney General’s Office were valid to continue investigations and pursue criminal action against both officials.
In the first case, lawmakers approved removing the procedural immunity of Bravo Montero, whom the FGE allegedly links to the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez and his bodyguard, which occurred on May 14 in Barra de Chachalacas.
According to the investigation, among the evidence presented are telephone records with matching geolocation data, as well as messages sent by the victim indicating that he had been meeting with the mayor and an alleged criminal operator shortly before disappearing.
Following the decision, Congress determined that the interim mayor of Úrsulo Galván will be Pedro de Jesús Rosado Guzmán, the substitute candidate from Movimiento Ciudadano for the removed mayor, Bertín Bravo Montero.
During the debate, Bravo Montero’s defense argued that there were inconsistencies in the forensic reports presented by the Attorney General’s Office and claimed that the events were related to a dispute over mining activities.
Second Mayor Loses Immunity Over Journalist’s Murder Investigation
In a second ruling, the Congress also approved removing the immunity of Raúl González Martínez, mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, who is being investigated as the alleged intellectual author of the kidnapping and femicide of journalist Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez.
According to the Veracruz Attorney General’s Office, the mayor allegedly ordered the journalist’s abduction and subsequent murder to prevent the publication of photographic material that supposedly affected his political career.
It should be noted that eight people have already been charged in connection with this case, including four municipal police officers from Ixhuatlán del Sureste, who allegedly participated in the events.
González Martínez did not attend the congressional session. His legal representatives presented arguments on his behalf and attempted to discredit the testimonies identifying him as a possible person responsible.
After the removal of immunity was approved, Congress ordered the appointment of substitute mayor Juliana Ruiz Martínez to assume the municipal presidency while judicial authorities continue processing possible arrest warrants and reviewing investigation files.
Following the legislative decision, the Ixhuatlán del Sureste City Council issued a statement announcing that it would continue the procedure established by law due to the temporary absence of the mayor.
The municipality also confirmed that Juliana Ruiz Martínez would assume the duties of municipal president to guarantee institutional continuity in public administration.
“The residents of Ixhuatlán are informed that activities, programs, services, and actions of the Municipal Government will continue operating normally. Citizen services and the functioning of the different departments of the City Council will remain regular,” the statement said.
Case of Journalist Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez
Journalist Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez was kidnapped by an armed group on June 2 while she was at her home in the municipality of Nanchital. Armed men reportedly broke into her residence and took her away.
After several weeks of searching, her remains were found in a property in southern Veracruz and identified on July 3.
Source: aristeguinoticias
