By Luis De Jesus
Sep 25, 2023, 7:40 PM EDT
Yolanda Sánchez, a mayor of the Mexican municipality of Cotija, in the state of Michoacán, has been kidnapped since last Saturday. The Mexican Prosecutor’s Office reported that an armed commando intercepted the vehicle in which the official was traveling after leaving, around 7:00 p.m., from a shopping center accompanied by other people.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador indicated this Monday that federal authorities are investigating this case of involuntary disappearance, although he did not delve into the details.
“The investigation is being done, the issue was discussed today at the security meeting; Apparently she was accompanied by three people, two were released. The Government of Jalisco is in charge (of the investigation), but we are helping,” the president declared at a press conference.
This is known about the mayor who was kidnapped
President @lopezobrador_ reported that the mayor of Cotija, Michoacán, Yolanda Sánchez, who was kidnapped in Zapopan, “apparently she was accompanied by three people, two were released. The government of… pic.twitter.com/vXDSqmcTJr
— Politico MX (@politicomx) September 25, 2023
Cotija is a town located between the border of Jalisco and Michoacán, which is suffering a wave of violence due to the presence of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, published EFE.
Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, governor of Michoacán, said this Monday that the mayor had not requested any type of personal security, but acknowledged that there are “confrontations and strong operations” that the authorities have carried out in the Cotija area this year.
“There are 11 municipal presidents who have some security measure from our government or the State Prosecutor’s Office. In this case, this type of support was never requested,” he told the press.
“Our country is getting completely out of control,” warned Marko Cortés, national president of the National Action Party.
“Yolanda Sánchez is a good woman, who has a decent and work history, and today we all know that she is raised by organized crime groups. Therefore, our most energetic complaint to the federal government regarding this issue of violence and insecurity that exists in the country. Another fact that shows the complete failure of embracing criminals,” said Cortés.
The politician demanded that the government return the Mexican mayor “safe and sound” for her family, friends and the inhabitants of the municipality of Cotija. He assured that Sánchez had already received threats.
The president of Mexico said in his press conference that political violence increases ahead of the 2024 elections and justified: “Always, in the history of the country, the moments of most effervescence and divisions and even violence occur when transitions occur, the changes, the renewals of power. So you have to take care, you have to be aware.”
An analysis by the EFE agency indicates that so far this year, 1,350 homicides have been recorded in Jalisco and 1,214 in Michoacán. They are two of the six most violent states in the country for hosting criminal organizations that dispute drug trafficking and chemical precursors of fentanyl.
The governor of Michoacán, @ARBedolla, says that the mayor of Cotija, Yolanda Sánchez, kidnapped on Saturday in Zapopan, had not asked for protection
The same speech and the same easy way out as always… pic.twitter.com/U7VfJhrMZe
— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) September 25, 2023
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