State lawmakers demanded the Chief Justice to suspend the pretended retirement payments approved for Judiciary Council members recently.
Chief Justice Jorge Armando Vásquez made a presentation Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Assembly Political Coordinating Board and Fiscal Affairs Commission.
Vásquez said three years ago, after the retirement of Justice Sergio Peñuelas, a request was made to approve pension payments that were originally denied.
However, an appeal was filed at the federal level and a judge ruled April 2015 the former Justice was authorized to get the retirement payment and, if it was not regulated, justices were ordered to approve one.
Since then, he said, justices asked Assembly members four times to approve a pension system in the Judiciary Branch.
A federal judge ruled justices must have had a pension system within 10 days.
“The decision made by the Judiciary Council is not an occurrence from its members, but an issue resolved by the Supreme Court”, he said. “Complying with the ruling does not imply the Judiciary Branch is impacting at this moment the budget approved, given a reserve fund was created in 2011 within the Judiciary Branch Expense Budget to create the retirement trust.”
Even though Assembly members acknowledged the pension system was approved lawfully, lawmakers were not satisfied with the report.
Assemblyman Cuauhtémoc Cardona –a Tijuana member of the National Action Party- said while the Executive Office and the Legislature have implemented an austerity policy, the Judiciary Branch increases its expenses with these types of pensions.
“The National Action Party has always in favor of the rule of law, but above all is in favor of the superior interest of residents, so this is why we will always look forward for their protection,” said the party’s legislative leader Mario Osuna.
Assemblyman Gerardo Álvarez –another National Action Party member from Tijuana- said the citizens have now a negative impression for the Judiciary Branch with the approval of such pension payment.
Assemblywoman Rosalba López said the federal government has already decreased funds for the state and specialists are speak about a potential economic crisis which puts the state in a situation that asks for a special caring of public funds.
Assemblyman Roberto Dávalos, with the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, asked justices to disapprove the retirement payment.
Dávalos said he is in agreement of a pension paid to every worker who has the right to it, but not on disproportionately like receiving a 100 percent of salary.
Party has new leadership
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI in Spanish) State Party Chairman Jaime López appointed a new Chair in Mexicali days ago.
He said Chair Héctor Sánchez Limón and Secretary General Gloria García Arvizu resigned from the post.
Union-leaning and labor lawyer Ricardo Aguilera Raygoza was appointed as PRI Chair in Mexicali and Assemblywoman Cinthya Ruiz as Secretary General.
“We trust in their performance”, López said of the appointments.
The new leaders took the oath Wednesday at the party headquarters in Mexicali’s Civic Center.
“Only with unity the Institutional Revolutionary Party will retake Mexicali City Hall and will have tremendous results in the upcoming elections of June 5,” Aguilera said.
The party is getting ready to announce too their mayoral candidate, who according to sources will be journalist and Channel 66’s program “Con Sentido” television anchor Antonio Magaña.
Robbery suspect indicted
A man who allegedly robbed a saloon last month was indicted by a state judge, said the Attorney General’s office.
Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Fernando Ramírez said José Luis, aka “Wicho”, was indicted for the Jan. 15 robbery at a business called Estética Karina Nails, located at Justo Sierra Avenue and Calzada de las Américas Avenue at Colonia Cuauhtémoc Norte neighborhood.
According to authorities, the suspect and two other men entered the business and “Wicho” brandished a firearm to threaten employees, customers and the site’s owner.
The suspects took 8,830 pesos in cash or US $519 and $630 in U.S. currency, as well as several electronic items valued at 20,000 pesos or US $1,176.
“Wicho” has three arrest warrants for residential robbery, robbery, attempted robbery and assault, while being investigated for attempted robbery, carjacking and assault.
The judge gave detectives two months to end the investigation and ruled the suspect must remain at Mexicali Jail while the criminal processing moves forward.
Murder suspect arrested
A man who allegedly killed another male in 2014 was arrested by state Ministerial police officers, said Special Investigations Coordinator in Mexicali David Lozano.
The Attorney General official identified the suspect as Juan Eduardo, 30, who had an arrest warrant for the homicide of Jorge Alberto Gil Banderas, 37.
Lozano said the suspect arrived at 3:50 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2014 at the victim’s residence, located at José María Jiménez Avenue at Colonia Independencia neighborhood.
The victim was talking with another person, he said.
Suddenly, the suspect brandished a .22-caliber firearm and shot the victim several times.
Lozano said Juan Eduardo is linked to other crimes, according to investigations held by state police agents.
The suspect was booked in Mexicali Jail where he waits for his indictment, Lozano said.
