Background on Elena Pérez-Jaén and Adán Augusto López Hernández
María Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño, a former federal deputy from the Panista party, has filed 37 denunciations against Adán Augusto López Hernández, the current senator and former governor of Tabasco. Pérez-Jaén claims that López Hernández, along with others responsible, committed possible irregularities in the expenditure of nearly 800 million pesos during his time as governor. She also alleges that the Auditor Superior of the Federation, David Colmenares Páramo, has been covering up for López Hernández.
Details of the Denunciations
Pérez-Jaén presented these denunciations to the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) based on findings from federal audits. The Auditoría Superior de la Federación (ASF) identified numerous irregularities in the use of federal resources during the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, documented in specific audits.
Specific Audit Findings
- Auditoría 1334-GB-GF (2020): This audit, related to the Fondo de Aportaciones para la Seguridad Pública de los Estados y del Distrito Federal, identified a lack of evidence for the delivery of goods worth 5.381 million pesos intended for armament acquisition by the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional.
- Auditoría 1194-DS-GF (2019): The audit found irregularities in the allocation of 562.543 million pesos to educational centers and organizations.
- Auditoría 1201-DS-GF (2019): This audit reported inconsistencies amounting to 4.968 million pesos in the Fondo de Aportaciones para los Servicios de Salud.
- Auditoría 1202-GB-GF (2019): The audit highlighted a mismanagement of 1.304 million pesos from the Fondo de Estabilización de los Ingresos de las Entidades Federativas.
- Auditoría 1204-DE-GF (2019): This audit pointed out 82.7 million pesos in irregularities related to Participaciones Federales a Entidades Federativas.
Pérez-Jaén claims that the ASF detected a lack of guarantees in public works and financial reporting discrepancies. These findings, she argues, suggest misappropriation of resources, deliberate opacity, and possible complicity. Hernán Bermúdez Requena, who was imprisoned for his alleged involvement with “La Barredora,” a group linked to criminal activities, has been implicated in these irregularities.
Alleged Misconduct
According to Pérez-Jaén, the audits reveal a lack of transparency, noncompliance with regulations, and misappropriation of federal resources. These irregularities include unjustified payments to duplicated employees in the education sector, payments to individuals on leave or deceased, unsupported and unjustified salary payments, acquisition of undelivered food vouchers, excessive payments for unauthorized categories, and insufficient documentation for contract application and resource transfers to medical units.
These behaviors, Pérez-Jaén asserts, align with offenses such as abuse of authority, illicit public service provision, unlawful use of powers, and bribery as per the Título Décimo of the Federal Criminal Code.
Actions Taken by Elena Pérez-Jaén
Pérez-Jaén has requested the Fiscalía Especializada en Materia de Combate a la Corrupción to open investigation files for each denunciated case, seek information from the ASF for necessary proof elements, conduct investigative acts to determine delictive existence and probable responsibility, and initiate the desafuero procedure.
Allegations Against Auditor David Colmenares Páramo
Pérez-Jaén alleges that Colmenares Páramo has been protecting López Hernández. She points out that more than 700 million pesos worth of cases are still under investigation in the ASF’s public consultation system, four and a half years after being reported to the Chamber of Deputies. Similarly, over 63 million pesos worth of cases from the 2020 audits are also under investigation.
Adán Augusto López Hernández’s Background
Adán Augusto López Hernández served as the governor of Tabasco from January 1, 2019, to August 21, 2020. He then joined President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s cabinet as the Secretary of Government.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Elena Pérez-Jaén? Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño is a former federal deputy from the Panista party.
- Who is Adán Augusto López Hernández? Adán Augusto López Hernández is the current senator and former governor of Tabasco.
- What are the allegations against Adán Augusto López Hernández? Pérez-Jaén accuses López Hernández of misappropriating nearly 800 million pesos during his governorship and covering up these irregularities with the help of Auditor David Colmenares Páramo.
- What specific audit findings support these allegations? Audits from 2019 and 2020 identified numerous irregularities, including lack of evidence for goods delivery, unjustified salary payments, and mismanagement of public funds.
- What actions has Elena Pérez-Jaén taken? She has filed 37 denunciations with the FGR, requesting investigations and information from the ASF.
- Why does Pérez-Jaén believe David Colmenares Páramo is protecting López Hernández? She points to ongoing investigations of more than 700 million pesos worth of cases and over 63 million pesos worth of cases from the 2020 audits, which remain under investigation.
