The Secretary of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, and the head of the Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat, Omar García Harfuch, assured that the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, had military protection and ruled out any links of these elements, as well as municipal police, to organized crime.
During the morning conference at the National Palace, Trevilla initially expressed the condolences of the armed forces. "We are very sensitive to this type of event because, unfortunately, circumstances arise where a family is left without the paternal figure," he said, highlighting "the attitude and courage" of the deceased mayor.
The general explained that since December, a risk analysis had been conducted to define his security scheme. He said that "coordination was established with the mayor, and he determined that his immediate security would be provided by Municipal Police personnel," in whom he placed his trust.
He specified that the National Guard was in charge of external perimeter surveillance and accompaniment in the territory due to the operation of groups with high firepower in Uruapan. "That personnel is trained to confront criminal groups also equipped with lethal weapons," and mentioned that the investigation continues and that "there will be no impunity".
For his part, García Harfuch informed that so far there is no information linking the municipal police in charge of Manzo's security to organized crime. "At this time, there is no indication that the group close to (...) has a link with organized crime," Harfuch pointed out.
Harfuch indicated that "one of the bodyguards himself is the one who kills the criminal who takes the mayor's life".
Harfuch detailed that surveillance cameras from the government and nearby businesses are already being analyzed to identify the aggressor and other possible involved parties. "We have images that we have obtained from other businesses of the aggressor before the event and of other people that we are analyzing," he stated.
Asked about the security situation in the region, García Harfuch confirmed that the federation will intensify operations in Michoacán, where recent actions against extortion and confrontations with criminal groups have been recorded. "Of course, it will be reinforced," he said, and emphasized that the strategy prioritizes investigation to "locate the criminals to go and make arrests (...) and it will not be the exception".
Trevilla recalled that the definition of protection levels for authorities is based on precedents and threats and may include elements of the Federal Protection Service, National Guard, or Armed Forces, depending on the detected risks.
Both officials reiterated that they maintain close coordination with the Michoacán State Attorney General's Office, responsible for the investigation of the homicide.
