Last Friday, Víctor Hugo Chávez Martínez, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) of Tabasco, submitted his resignation, according to internal sources from the agency. In recent months, Chávez Martínez had reportedly received constant threats from organized crime through posters and banners found alongside murdered individuals.
Chávez Martínez took office on February 2, 2024, appointed by then-governor Carlos Merino and ratified by the current governor, Javier May. He assumed command after the departure of Hernán Bermúdez Requena, appointed by Adán Augusto López Hernández, allegedly linked to the criminal group La Barredora. In addition to his resignation, the resignation of the commissioner of the SSPC, Alfredo Gutiérrez Rosado, was also reported, with the position expected to be filled by Alonso Jiménez Pérez, the current general director of the State Police.
Hours before resigning, Chávez Martínez received new threats. Dismembered bodies along with messages directed at him were found in different locations in Jalpa de Méndez and on the Cunduacán-La Isla road, warning that he should "not cut the line" and insisting that "a deal is a deal." These messages add to others that have circulated in previous months. Despite the accusations, Chávez Martínez denied having links to criminal groups or being under pressure from them.
On Friday, Chávez Martínez did not accompany the government delegation on its visit to the municipality of Emiliano Zapata, which sparked speculation about his imminent departure. Although his resignation has been confirmed, the state government has not yet issued an official statement or announced a possible successor. This week, the Secretary of Government, José Ramiro López Obrador, mentioned that all members of the State Police are being investigated to determine if they have ties to crime.
