Background on the Mayor
Mario Hernández García served as the president municipal of Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca. His dedication to public service made him a significant figure in the region.
The Tragic Incident
Date and Location: The tragic event occurred on the early morning of Thursday, May 15th, along a road connecting Santiago Amoltepec’s municipal headquarters to the Piedra Liza community in Oaxaca’s Sierra Sur region.
Details of the Attack: Hernández García, along with two municipal police officers, was ambushed while returning from Llano de Tigre’s patron saint festival. The attackers opened fire with high-caliber weapons near a location known as El Tablero, close to the El Mamey community.
Victims and Survivors: The mayor was taken to a local clinic but succumbed to his injuries en route to Teojomulco’s municipal hospital. Three others survived the attack but sustained gunshot wounds.
Official Response
Fiscalía General del Estado de Oaxaca: The state’s attorney general confirmed the mayor’s murder and that of two police officers. They immediately initiated investigations, deploying a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts, the Ministry Public, and Agency State Investigations elements.
Governor Salomón Jara Cruz: The governor condemned the mayor’s assassination via social media, pledging full support to the attorney general for clarifying the incident. He expressed solidarity and support for the victims’ families, emphasizing that his administration would not tolerate impunity.
Contextualizing the Assassination
This assassination is part of a disturbing trend of political figures being targeted in recent weeks. Other notable cases include:
- Luis Armando Córdova Díaz: The former Jalisco state legislator and current PRI political alliances secretary was gunned down inside a shopping mall in Zapopan.
- Esteban Alfonseca Salazar: The former mayor and Fuerza por México candidate in Oaxaca was assassinated.
- Edmundo Martínez Pérez: Another Oaxaca politician was killed after attending a Morena rally.
- Yesenia Lara Gutiérrez: A Morena candidate for Texistepec, Veracruz, was also targeted in this series of attacks.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who was Mario Hernández García? He was the president municipal of Santiago Amoltepec, Oaxaca, known for his dedication to public service.
- What happened during the ambush? Hernández García, along with two police officers, was attacked while returning from a patron saint festival. All three were shot.
- What was the official response? The Fiscalía General del Estado de Oaxaca initiated investigations, and Governor Salomón Jara Cruz condemned the assassination, pledging full support for clarifying the incident.
- Why is this assassination significant? It’s part of a worrying pattern of political figures being targeted in recent weeks, highlighting the growing insecurity faced by public servants.
