Introduction
The assassination of Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, is not just another symptom of the violence plaguing the country and Michoacán in particular. It also marks the tragic end of a life dedicated to social denunciation and legislative pursuit of justice, often denied to those who need it most. In his memory, we revisit Manzo’s journey through the LXV Legislature in San Lázaro to highlight how even the most legitimate struggles can be silenced by parliamentary indifference.
Background and Motivation
Carlos Manzo entered the federal Congress driven by the daily tragedies of Uruapan: irrational violence that claims entire families, corruption eroding public trust, and systematic neglect of essential services like healthcare. From the tribune, his voice was consistent and firm in condemning child massacres, extortion, theft, and the complicity of state authorities in the deterioration of public life.
Emblematic Legislative Initiatives
Disparos al aire (Shots in the Air):
Manzo’s first emblematic initiative aimed to amend the Federal Penal Code, explicitly sanctioning those who discharge firearms into the air. This practice, common during Mexican Independence Day and Christmas celebrations in Michoacán and across the country, often results in deaths and injuries from stray bullets. Manzo documented this issue, citing recent cases of children killed in their beds and partygoers injured. His proposal included penalties of one to four years in prison and fines, along with weapon confiscation. It was grounded in hard data and a moral appeal for collective responsibility.
However, the initiative faced indifference: presented in December 2021 and referred to the Justice Committee, it was postponed until May 2022 and eventually discarded without a dictamen by Morena’s parliamentary group in August 2024. The lack of action wasn’t due to insufficient grounding or relevance—UNLIREC reports a rise in stray bullet deaths in Mexico, ranking it second in the region for documented cases. Instead, institutional incapacity to address uncomfortable or risky topics for the status quo or electoral interests led to its dismissal.
Reform of Article 78 in the Constitution:
Manzo’s second overlooked initiative sought to amend Article 78 of the Constitution, requiring paritary, plural, and discrimination-free integration of legislative groups into the Permanent Commission. In a Congress where “paridad” (gender equality) is often a slogan rather than practice, the proposal responded to electoral court resolutions demanding genuine minority representation and gender equity. Had it been dictamened, the initiative would have increased Commission members to 63, ensuring proportional representation of all forces and a truly balanced democratic leadership. Yet, legislative stagnation struck again: no committee addressed the dictamen, and plurality remained mere rhetorical adornment.
Manzo’s Broader Advocacy
Beyond structural initiatives, Manzo consistently named and shamed those responsible for Michoacán’s social decline: state governments squandering resources on privileges or aligning with organized crime, police violating their protection, and authorities turning a blind eye to extortion, kidnappings, and direct threats against his life. He fearlessly held the governor accountable for any attack on him.
Manzo’s fight was for dignity for victims, strengthening social security for children, combating narco-politics, and ensuring justice for the most vulnerable.
The Legacy of Indifference
Despite his unwavering stance, Manzo’s voice, like many others in Congress, was ultimately silenced by Morena and allies’ political machinery preferring inaction over discomfort. His evidence-based, principle-driven initiatives collided with an invisible wall of complicities. Today, his murder is not just a personal tragedy but also a crime against the hope that Congress might one day support those who denounce and propose for the common good.
Remembering Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez
Honoring Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez means demanding that no significant initiative be left undictamened, ensuring social justice isn’t merely discourse, and that his struggles inspire breaking the cycle of impunity and parliamentary forgetfulness.
Though his time in San Lázaro was brief, Manzo’s legacy is profound: it reminds us that even “shots in the air” can eventually strike the conscience of those who remain silent and complicit.
Bibliography
- [1] UNLIREC. https://www.unlirec.org/download/balas-perdidas-ii-analisis-de-casos-de-balas-perdidas-reportados-en-medios-de-comunicacion-en-america-latina-y-el-caribe-2014-2015/
- [2] Disparos al aire: Gaceta Parlamentaria
- [3] Carlos A. Manzo R.: https://sitl.diputados.gob.mx/LXV_leg/curricula.php?dipt=175
Author: The author (www.ectorjaime.mx) is a general surgery specialist, public health certified, and doctorate in public health and public administration. He is a legislator and advocate for Mexico’s public health, reelected PAN member in the LXVI Legislature.
