Introduction
Just over a week ago, Mexican authorities announced their biggest blow against corruption under Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum’s government: the arrest of 14 individuals, including a naval vice admiral, five active duty marines, former customs officials, and businessmen. All are implicated in the illegal trafficking of hydrocarbons, dubbed “fiscal huachicol.” Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna, who led the gang, and his fugitive brother, Counter Admiral Fernando with the same surnames (a truth of Perogrullo who called a clenched fist a “fist”), are the nephews of former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda Durán from the previous administration.
Background on Key Figures
Hernán Bermúdez Requena, the alleged leader of the criminal group “La Barredora,” was apprehended in Asunción, Paraguay. He served as Tabasco’s Secretary of Security during the tenure of Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, who is also a former presidential candidate. Both Ojeda Durán and López Hernández belong to the “club of the silent” or “association of the mute,” whose motto is, “In closed mouth, no guilt enters.”
The Silence of High-Ranking Officials
One might expect a man of the sea, like Admiral Ojeda Durán, accustomed to facing storms, to be the first to step onto the deck and face the music. However, he chose the prudence of a submarine in enemy waters.
Senator López Hernández, facing the imminent imprisonment of his collaborator Bermúdez, opted to release a ‘press statement’ that doesn’t bear his signature. This anonymously written text, written in the third person, begins by stating: “In light of the recent arrest of former Tabasco Secretary of Security, Hernán Bermúdez Requena, Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández reiterated his strong commitment to justice and reminded that he himself requested (modestly) a thorough investigation of this case, emphasizing his full availability to appear before authorities when required” (sic).
Attacking Political Rivals
The remainder of the dubious document shifts its focus from the alleged criminal Bermúdez to attacking Panista Senator Anaya. It criticizes those who now demand investigations, urging them to answer whether penal charges were determined in the investigations involving Ricardo Anaya. The text accuses Anaya and his party of protecting their own instead of revealing the truth to the nation when ex-Secretary of the Interior Juan Camilo Mouriño and Ramón Martín Huerta died under suspicious circumstances.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who are the key figures involved in this corruption scandal?
A: The key figures are Vice Admiral Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna, his fugitive brother Counter Admiral Fernando, former Navy Secretary Rafael Ojeda Durán, Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, and alleged criminal Hernán Bermúdez Requena.
- Q: What is the nature of the illegal activity they are accused of?
A: They are implicated in the illegal trafficking of hydrocarbons, known as “fiscal huachicol.”
- Q: How have the accused officials responded to these allegations?
A: The accused officials, particularly Admiral Ojeda Durán and Senator López Hernández, have chosen silence or released statements deflecting blame onto political rivals.
- Q: What does the “club of the silent” or “association of the mute” signify?
A: It refers to high-ranking officials who maintain silence or protect each other, prioritizing personal loyalties over accountability.
Context and Impact
This corruption crackdown highlights the persistent issue of political blind spots in Mexico, where loyalty among allies takes precedence over accountability. As citizens await genuine efforts to clean up the higher echelons, these events underscore the ongoing struggle against entrenched corruption.
