After the national chair of Mexico’s ruling party announced his resignation the state leader declined to leave the office.
Institutional Revolutionary Party (or PRI in Spanish) National Chair Manlio Beltrones made the announcement of his resignation Monday evening during a meeting with members of the Permanent Political Board.
PRI State Chair in Baja California Chris López said he will continue with his partisan duties for the modernization of the institution.
“We have a commitment with Baja California party members to approach the society, listen to it even more and to make a commitment to fight for better life conditions,” López said. “Our party must be more functional, better articulated and more open to society, more transparent.”
He said this is not the time to go home or point fingers on those guilty of the defeat during the June 5 midterm elections.
His party retained Ensenada and Tecate mayor offices, but lost Tijuana, the largest city in the state with half the voters in Baja California.
Corruption bill not enough
A Mexican lawmaker from Mexicali said the recent approval of a bill to address corruption issues was not enough.
Congresswoman Gina Cruz, with the National Action Party (or PAN in Spanish), said the new law does not mandate public officials to release their declaration of interest, tax reports and property documentation.
She said PAN members introduced amendments to the bill that did not make it mandatory to publicize such documents. Eventually, Institutional Revolutionary Party lawmakers and their allies decided to get rid of the amendments.
The bill mandates all businesses that receive public funds to release those documents, she said.
“This is a joke,” she said. “We receive a salary from public funds, while government providers are businesses that even though get money from coffers are providing services.”
Cruz said all employees of those businesses are entitled to release their fiscal, property and interest reports.
This will allow impacted parties to file lawsuit, she said.
Congress had a deadline to approve such reforms—May 28, which was not reached.
“What is important to underline is the fact that the anti-corruption system was approved”, she added.
Cruz recalled Mexico is considered by international organizations for lacking appropriate legal measures to address corruption.
The new law creates an anti-corruption prosecutorial office independent from the Attorney General’s office and whose appointment will depend on an independent committee.
Man found dead
A man was found dead Tuesday morning, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 5:45 a.m. the body of a male was found at Second Street and De Los Monarcas Street at Colonia Ex Ejido Xochimilco neighborhood.
The deceased man was found dressing only a blue denim jean.
The police said the corpse had several blood stains in the head.
The body was found after an unknown person made a report at the emergency center.
Teenager indicted for robbery
A teenager was indicted for a residential robbery reported on Saturday against a minor in which the suspect took a television screen, said the Attorney General’s office.
Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Fernando Ramírez said Javier Salvador “Doe,” aka “El Chava”, 19, was indicted for the June 18 robbery reported at Colonia Robledo.
The official said the suspect allegedly arrived at a residence while the minor’s mother left the home.
Once inside, the suspect presumably brandished a knife and threatened a 12-year-old girl to kill her.
The victim remained in silence, Ramírez said.
After hearing the fence door opening the suspect took a television screen and attempted to flee.
The victim’s mother called the police and officers found and arrested the suspect blocks away with the stolen item.
The judge gave prosecutors one month to close the investigation, Ramírez said.
Robbery reported at night
Three individuals including a minor were arrested Monday night after allegedly committing a robbery in a convenience store where two bottles of liquor were stolen, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 11:10 p.m. police officers arrested Pedro “Doe,” 20; Jorge “Doe,” 38 and Arnulfo “Doe,” 16 in connection with the crime.
The emergency center reported the robbery at the Oxxo store located at Guadamur Avenue and Anáhuac Boulevard in southern Mexicali.
While en route to the store police agents observed a 2002 gray Volkswagen Passat with California plates that matched the vehicle in which the suspects left scene.
After stopping the driver police agents found a dark colored pistol and a kitchen knife inside the vehicle.
Police officers also found 446 pesos, a bottle of tequila and another of vodka.
The suspects were transported to the police headquarters, authorities said.
