Mexican Senator Víctor Hermosillo –a National Action Party member and former Mayor of Mexicali- endorsed a bill that seeks to combat corruption among elected officials.
Along with colleagues and National PAN Chairman Ricardo Anaya, senators held a press conference after meeting with non-profit organization representatives with whom the issue was addressed.
The PAN lawmakers said their members will not vote for any bills that exclude the Initiative “3 of 3”, that has been signed by over 500,000 Mexican voters.
The initiative looks to make it mandatory for all elected officials to publicly release personal tax and property reports.
The lawmakers also asked for an Open Parliament — a transparent process to make public all bills introduced with the author or co-author’s names.
Hermosillo recalled the Legislature has 30 days to approve secondary laws of the National Anti-Corruption System, a program announced by President Enrique Peña at the beginning of his term.
Hermosillo said PAN lawmakers will also press for other issues like a reform of the Attorney General’s office, a digital platform to attack corruption with a comprehensive database including Request for Proposals, purchases, property reports, list of lawsuits, and names of public servants who have committed violations, as well as the launching of the Professional Career Service.
Man indicted for burglary
A man was indicted Friday under charges of residential burglary committed last week and from where the suspect attempted to take clothes, electronics, perfumes, and jewelry, said the Attorney General’s office.
Authorities said the suspect was identified as Radamés, 36, who was caught by the property owner along with another man while attempting to steal the items.
The burglary was reported in a residence located at Laguna Avenue at Fraccionamiento Las Garzas subdivision.
The suspects had already most of the items outside the residence, but left a 60-inch television inside the house.
The owner of the residence and his wife observed the suspects, who attempted to flee.
The victim followed the suspects and reported the incident to police officers who only arrested the indicted man.
The judge gave prosecutors one month to close the investigation and to provide additional evidence in the case.
Export report underlines the state
The Complexity Exporting Index, created by Harvard University, Mexico’s Secretary of the Treasury and the Economic Research and Teaching Center (or CIDE in Spanish) set Baja California in fifth place nationwide.
The state was above other states like Querétaro, Mexico City, and Guanajuato, where manufacturing and aerospace industries have blossomed for several years.
The index includes variables like the amount of exports, as well as its diversity and specialization.
In 2014, Baja California exports accounted for US $40 billion and were sent to over 160 countries.
Among the main products exported by state companies are electronics, machinery, and vehicles.
According to the list, Mexicali’s Metropolitan Zone is tenth nationwide while Tijuana-Tecate-Rosarito MZ is sixteenth.
Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante said the tool enriches public and private planning by making more efficient the promotion of the state and the integration of industry clusters.
Mayor meets taxi drivers
Mexicali Mayor Jaime Díaz met Thursday with members of the League of Taxi Drivers to discuss transportation issues.
Driver Lorenzo Talamantes said even though the city has improved working conditions for the group there are several cloned taxi cabs that provide service in city streets.
He also said taxi drivers from rural Mexicali have been caught providing service in the city, which is a violation of local ordinances.
Talamantes requested the strengthening of special operations to detect violators by the Municipal Transportation System to avoid any disruption in service and to reduce risk for users.
Mayor Díaz said the city will address the issues.
