Juan Pablo Mendizábal Pérez, who is a forensic doctor and a master in Criminal Science, filed a lawsuit today on Aristegui en Vivo. In it, he requests compensation and retirement pension in accordance with the law, after more than 20 years of service, following his unjust removal from his position.
Mendizábal Pérez was in charge of performing the necropsy on the body of Mrs. Ernestina Ascencio Rosario, a 73-year-old Nahua indigenous woman who passed away on February 26, 2007, after being attacked and a victim of sexual violence by members of the Mexican Army in the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz.
The expert has claimed that the woman, originally from Tetlatzingo, municipality of Soledad Atzompa, Veracruz, was raped by three people and that, as a consequence of his work on this case, he was unjustly dismissed. Despite the refusal of the Government of Mexico, the Government of Veracruz, the Mexican Army, and the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) to investigate the case and punish those responsible.
Mendizábal Pérez requested that justice be done for both Ernestina Ascencio and her family, as well as for himself, who has suffered the consequences of his dismissal. Specifically, he demands that he be compensated for the years worked and that he be granted the corresponding pension according to Mexican law.
The veteran forensic expert emphasized: "I still had the opportunity, the press gave me the opportunity, to invite at that time the president of the National Commission (CNDH), (José Luis) Soberanes to a public debate to determine who was right, and he did not accept, he did not want to, and I understand why, it was very clear, there was laboratory evidence, forensic evidence that the lady had been sexually assaulted."
Mendizábal remains active thanks to the solidarity of the residents of Soledad Atzompa, Veracruz, where he currently works for IMSS Bienestar. The former official hopes that the current president and governor, both women, will support his situation and that justice will be done in the case of the rape of Ernestina Ascencio.
