The State Attorney General's Office of Tabasco reported that former Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection Hernán Bermúdez Requena was formally linked to a process for the alleged forced disappearance of persons. This decision was made by a judge during a hearing held on Saturday. Previously, Bermúdez Requena's defense had requested an extension of the constitutional term to define his legal status, which delayed the decision. Currently, Bermúdez Requena is being held at the federal maximum-security prison 'El Altiplano' in the State of Mexico, where he remains under preventive detention while complementary investigations are carried out. During the judicial hearing, the judge determined that there are sufficient elements to continue the criminal process against the former official, and formally declared the linkage to process for forced disappearance. However, that request did not prevent the judge from resolving on his linkage. The former secretary, also identified by the aliases 'El Abuelo' or 'Comandante H', not only faces this accusation of forced disappearance but is already linked to multiple criminal proceedings for serious crimes such as criminal association, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated extortion. Bermúdez Requena was arrested in Paraguay in September 2025 and subsequently transferred to Mexico, following the issuance of several arrest warrants related to the alleged command of a criminal group called 'La Barredora'. The linkage to process for forced disappearance adds to a series of accusations linking Bermúdez Requena to criminal activities and the alleged operation of criminal cells from high-ranking state security positions. Authorities continue with the criminal process and do not rule out that new imputations may be presented against Bermúdez as the investigation progresses.
