Federal, state, and local public safety officials held a meeting Thursday to address safety measures that will take place during the midterm elections in June.
Baja California Governor Francisco Vega led the gathering attended by the Military Commander in the state General José Bárcenas, Secretary of State Francisco Rueda, Secretary of Public Safety Daniel de la Rosa, Attorney General Perla Ibarra, Mexico’s Attorney General in the state Pedro Torres and Federal Police state coordinator Pedro Hernández.
No details were disclosed by authorities regarding the assembly.
Also present at the site were State Electoral Institute Board President Javier Garay and National Electoral Institute Council Chair in the state Donaciano Muñoz.
Three years ago, several polling places were burned to ashes by unknown individuals who scattered gasoline in eastern Mexicali minutes before the polls were closed.
During the same election, several ballot boxes were stolen in Tijuana. In both cases, no suspects were arrested.
Sexual abuse suspect arrested
A man who allegedly raped a minor 12 years ago was arrested by state Ministerial police officers, said the Attorney General’s office.
According to authorities, Sergio Ángel Ruiz Escalante was accused by the victim’s mother on November for a sexual abuse committed in 2004.
The suspect is married to a family friend.
The victim’s mother told authorities that back the girl was left with the suspect and his wife as the woman had to take care of her sister, who was seriously ill.
Authorities said the suspect’s wife had very long working schedules, which was Ruiz Escalante took advantage of in order to sexually abuse the minor.
The victim was again back with her mother after the decease of her mother’s sister, authorities said.
The Attorney General’s office said the suspect presumably admitted the crime.
Ruiz Escalante said he spent the day consuming methamphetamine.
He also went on to say he was under the influence when the abuse occurred.
Authorities verified the violation through gynecological and psychological examination.
A judge granted the arrest warrant to police officers, who then proceeded with the apprehension.
Additional funds for the poor approved
Assembly members approved Tuesday additional funds for the agency in charge of providing a helping hand to low-income residents.
State lawmakers voted in favor of Bill 313, that was previously approved by Revenue and Budget Commission members that would give 20 million pesos or US $1.2 million in additional funds to the Social Development Secretary.
Commission Chairwoman Rosalba López, a Tijuana member of the governing National Action Party, introduced the bill to increase the agency’s budget in 2016.
The funds seek to provide residents in vulnerable communities up to 7,891 packages of construction material to improve their homes.
The goal of the bill is to address the tick-borne Rocky Mountain Fever illness statewide that has cost over a hundred lives in the last several years.
