municipio

Momento de la captura de Leo “N” el pasado martes 31 de mayo. Foto: Cortesía.

Sofía Medeles.- Pese a que Comunicación Social del Gobierno de Chapala informó que el presunto acosador detenido, identificado como Leo “N”, habría sido liberado por haber cumplido con las horas de la sanción administrativa y por no haber denuncias en su contra, testigos y denunciantes aseguraron que hubo al menos seis interpuestas en el Ministerio Público (MP). 

La declaración por parte del Ayuntamiento fue brindada el mismo día de su liberación, es decir, el pasado jueves 2 de junio, motivo por el que los denunciantes compartieron a Laguna sus testimonios en contra del señalado.

Dos personas, quienes que optaron por el anonimato por temor a represalias, aseguraron contar con un folio de carpeta de denuncia -a la cual este medio tuvo acceso-, además, aseguraron que mantuvieron contacto con al menos otras cuatro personas que denunciaron entre el día de la detención de Leo “N”, martes 31 de mayo, y el día siguiente, es decir, miércoles 1 de junio.

Aunque no mencionaron una causa o delito por el que denunciaron, comentaron que los testimonios de los denunciantes fueron similares. Los testigos creen que el delito podría ser acoso, o toma de fotografías de menores de edad sin su consentimiento.

“Nos encontramos con muchos conocidos, hasta les ayudamos a reunir los papeles que necesitaban. En los casos con menores de edad, a los niños los pasaron con psicólogo, y después de eso, nos citaron hasta septiembre. Solo en un caso le citaron en Poncitlán, le volvieron a pedir la declaración, y le dijeron que le hablarían cuando hubiera actualizaciones”, comentó una entrevistada.

Aunque los oficiales de policía municipal, y demás autoridades exhortaron a la población afectada a denunciar, al final, se emitió la postura de que no había ninguna denuncia, ante el Ministerio Público. Esto, junto a la liberación del señalado, desmoralizó a las personas que iniciaron con procesos en el Ministerio Público, ya que no le ven caso a seguir con los trámites si el sujeto se encuentra en libertad, y según rumores, lejos de Ajijic.

Además, compartieron que, en el transcurso de sus denuncias en el MP del municipio, el personal de la dependencia fue cortante, carente de empatía, y falto de apoyo en la explicación del papeleo a quienes acudieron a denunciar.

Una estudiante de leyes, quien prefirió omitir su nombre, señaló sobre el actuar de las autoridades en la liberación del individuo, que podría deberse a varias razones que hacen que el caso no sea tan grave, como la posible condición mental de Leo “N”, o que el delito de acoso no es tan severo como para tener a alguien en situación de cárcel mientras se hacen las averiguaciones correspondientes, y que en estos casos, es probable que otorgue una medida cautelar, como lo es ir a firmar cada mes a las oficinas del MP.

Finalmente, las personas afectadas dejaron un mensaje a las autoridades estatales, preguntando qué tiene que pasar o qué esperan para que intercedan. 

“Esperan que secuestren o abusen de alguien”, manifestó uno de los testigos. A raíz de esto, también mencionaron que por eso ocurren tantos casos de “justicia por mano propia», al ser ignorados y que no haya figura que preserve su seguridad.

Inaugural ribbon cutting. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

Editor.- Jocotepec now has a university. The Regional University of Tequila (URIT) opened a campus in Jocotepec June 4, starting with 11 degree programs.

URIT Jocotepec, already has students. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

Present at the opening were Juan Diego Calderón Rodríguez, general rector of the university council, Moisés Rodríguez Huerta, vice rector, Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón, municipal trustee, and Father Jesús Quiroz Romo, who blessed the facilities, academic staff and students.

The facilities are located next to the access to the San Jorge passage in the Jocotepec plaza. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

URIT Jocotepec offers studies in International Business, Administration, Accounting, Law, Nutrition, Psychology, Pedagogy, Architectural Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Relations and Graphic Design. 

«Bringing the campus to young people allows them to receive the same education right here. We are continuing to break ground in Lake Chapala municipalities in order to bring affordable and convenient education,» said Rector Juan Diego Calderón Rodríguez during an interview.

Part of the school facilities. Photo: Government of Jocotepec.

The campus plans to offer bachelor’s, postgraduate, specialties and master’s degrees, said Vice Rector Moisés Rodríguez Huerta, adding that the wide educational offerings help the community, especially the Agronomist Engineer, in view of the red fruit fields for export in the municipality.   

For more information, please call 332-637-7821 or go to the campus, located in the Jocotepec plaza.

Translated by Paul Weeks

More than 45 women between the ages of 20 and 65 completed their courses at the Pro Mexico association. Photo: Alma Serrano. 

Editor.- Mujeres Pro México celebrated the culmination of the third generation of the Second Chance program on the afternoon of May 8 in San Juan Cosalá.

The event was held at a restaurant on the edge of Lake Chapala, near the restaurant row area of Piedra Barrenada, where the 45 students received recognition for their participation, after an honorary act.

The trades studied were Handmade Sewing, Natural Cosmetics, Caregivers for the Elderly and Event Organization, which lasted about a year. However, the Pro Mexico team offers continuous basic training for women in any of its workshops. 

The event was attended by more than 100 people, including guests, family members, students, mentors and members of the Pro Mexico team. The third generation of the workshops was finally able to complete the course, as the first two lasted between six and ten months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

During the graduation, the mentors and women on the podium recognized and congratulated the graduates for the significance that the Second Chance program has achieved in their lives. 

At the event it was pointed out that «there are 45 women giving themselves a second chance to learn»; and «you have put yourselves in front of everyone, deciding and have left aside the thought of ‘I can’t’; we don’t wait for things to happen, thinking if God wants it, of course he does», were some of the phrases expressed.  

Pro Mexico is the only association in Ribera de Chapala focused on the development of women by offering them personal and emotional support.

«We are the number one empowerment center in San Juan Cosalá, with 45 hardworking and tireless women,» said Rosa Arévalo, a representative of the association. 

The event ended with a runway show of blanket clothing created, intervened and presented by Pro Mexico women, which highlighted the value of each and every one of its women. 

Translated  by Patrick O’Heffernan

Neighbors of the Santa María neighborhood presenting their complaints and petitions to the municipal president of Chapala.

Jazmín Stengel (Chapala).- Residents of Chapala’s Santa María neighborhood told Cshapala President Aguirre during a weekly “Session with the Mayr’ that they need maintenance on streets that flood when it rains, public spaces,  and medical services,

The heavy floods that occur on Santa María street bring mud, stones, materials and even dead animals, according to the testimonies of the people who attended the supervision tour, with more than eight neighbors complaining. Municipal authorities committed to address the issue.

Another of the requests made to Aguirre Curiel was the installation of public recreational places for young people and adults, since there are few in the area.

They also asked the municipality to provide local or mobile medical services, since the neighborhood is far from community health centers.

Translated by Kerry Watson

A little more than a year after being elected by the citizens of the 17th district, María Dolores López Jara, who goes by Lolis, has promoted 39 initiatives, several focused on equality and human rights, in addition to multiple co- sponsorships in social matters. 

“I feel happy because we are celebrating our anniversary!” said the congresswoman on social networks. “One year after the election, I am still grateful to all the people who gave me their trust.”

The Jocotepec native and Deputy in the Congress of Jalisco has accomplished a lot so far in projects and negotiations. About 1,200 people have benefited through various social programs, she has had 20 talks with women throughout the district and she has made 156 visits to municipalities,  

Lolis also recognized the efforts of her family and friends, as well as her work team. She has committed herself to the citizens to continue moving forward, to be at the service of the people, and to be always working. 

Translated by Mike Rogers

The mayor of Chapala, accompanied by municipal officials and representatives of the Government of the State of Jalisco.

Editor.– The municipality of Chapala is one of the venues that  will host the XXIX edition of the Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería to be held this year from August 25 to September 4 in different venues in the state of Jalisco  to promote tourism outside the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (AMG).

Chapala President Aguirre  announced at a press conference on the program of activities of the Encounter that Chapala will host a gala concert on Friday, August 26.

The Mayor of Chapala, accompanied by municipal officials, representatives of the Jalisco State Government and the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce.

«One of the objectives of this Encounter is to extend to the municipalities of the state this celebration, so Chapala will host one of the events of this program. On  Friday, August 26 we will have a gala concert in our municipality,»  the mayor shared on his personal Facebook account.

In addition to the AMG, International Gala events will  also be held in Puerto Vallarta, Cocula, Tequila, Mazamitla, Jocotepec and Tapalpa with the presentation of mariachis from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, United States, Bolivia, Israel, Peru, Ecuador and Dominican Republic.   

Alejandro Aguirre during the presentation conference of the XXIX Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería.

On August 27 and 28, 15 teams will participate in the Charro Championship will be held at the «Los 3 Potrillos» horse track on the highway between Chapala and Guadalajara.

This year  event organizers plan to continue with live broadcasts, as was done during the pandemic,  to reach approximately 13 million viewers from 50 countries in four continents: America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. 

The Mayor of Chapala thanked the Chamber of Commerce; Lourdes Ariadna González Pérez, Secretary of Culture; and Vanessa Pérez Lamas, Secretary of Tourism of Jalisco, for their support for Chapala’s participation in major international events such as the International Mariachi Encounter. 

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

In Jocotepec the loss of jobs amounted to 559, primarily in the agricultural sector. Photo: Notisistema. 

Staff.- Chapala and Jocotepec registered the loss of 780 formal jobs during May, according to the IMSS database of insured workers. 

In the update presented by the Institute of Statistical and Geographic Information of Jalisco (IIEG), lakeside towns can be found on the list of the 20 municipalities with the greatest decrease in jobs. 

Jocotepec ranked fifth with 495 formal jobs lost; 431 of them classified as seasonal and 64 as permanent. Chapala ranked tenth with 221 fewer jobs; 149 permanent and 72 seasonal. 

The ranking of municipalities with the greatest loss of employment in May 2022 was headed by Tala with 1,666 fewer jobs, followed by Ameca with a decrease of 994 jobs and in third place was Tamazula de Gordiano with 752 fewer formal jobs. 

In contrast, the towns with the greatest job creation were Zapopan with 4,117 new jobs, Guadalajara with 3,322, and Zacoalco de Torres with 1,218 new insured workers. 

At the state level, Jalisco generated 3,517 formal jobs in May, mainly due to the construction industry sector, where there was an increase of 2,327 workers in the month, with a monthly variation of +1.70 percent. 

Translated by Rebecca Zittle

The case was exposed in the municipality’s social networks, allegedly showing municipal workers with the accused blurred out.

Editorial staff.- A man who was caught dumping in a lot on the side of the Jocotepec highway avoided a fine of up to 30,000 pesos after agreeing to remove his own trash and more, which had been dumped in the location weeks earlier.

The accused appeared in a video on the Government of Jocotepec’s social networks. According to the municipal trustee, Carlos Alberto Zúñiga Chacón, it shows what appears to be a worker of the municipality and the accused, whose face in the video was blurred to protect his identity. 

The trustee said that the person was caught, but that he was not going to be sanctioned because he agreed to remove his own trash and more. It is not known who authorized the agreement instead of applying a fine as required by law, nor whether this criterion is applied to the entire population and, if so, under what circumstances.

Some of the trash that was found on the Jocotepec highway.

The area where the trash was seen, almost at the Guadalajara-Morelia highway, has remained full of trash, giving those driving by a negative image of the municipality. Before a visit by the Governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, in May, an improvised clean-up took place using backhoe machines to hide the dumping spot as much as possible, so that the governor would not notice the waste. 

The municipality has previously made appeals to the population not to litter, especially in the section of the Guadalajara-Morelia highway leading to El Molino, where the trash began to accumulate.

Translated by Mags Petela

 Fenced and walled property; this is located inside the lake, in Riberas del Pilar. Photo: Courtesy.

Editor.- Both neighbors of the area, as well as activist groups in favor of the protection of the federal land, have denounced the lack of attention of the authorities to one of the lake invasions in the town of Riberas del Pilar.

This property is located on Paseo del Lago Street, between San Pablo and San Mateo and, according to witnesses, there are plans to build a house. The  invaded space measures 75 meters in front, and 20 to 25 meters long  facing the lake.

When the level of the lake rises, this land is flooded because it is located inside the lake.

In this particular case, not only is it located on federal land, but the supposed owner is filling it with material now that the level of the lake has dropped, in order to be able to build, which indicates this property is within the territory of Lake Chapala, so that when the level rises, the space will be covered by water.

Some witnesses interviewed, who prefer to remain anonymous, stated that there have already been complaints filed with both the National Water Commission (Conagua) and the Federal Attorney General’s Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), but neither agency has acted. 

According to the witnesses, the Chapala government has closed the site on at least two occasions; however, the seals have been removed and services such as potable water and electricity have been provided.

The owner is known among the complainants as «El Torero», and they say that he is a very aggressive person who cares little about invasion issues. There is currently a stable on the land. One of the activists went to talk to the woman who takes care of the stables, who confirmed that he  is planning to build a farm there, and so far, he has built the front wall.

Appearance of the fill and what has been built so far. The filled area is located on Paseo del Lago street, between San Pablo and San Mateo.

The Indigenous Community of San Antonio Tlayacapan has become involved in the case, acting to reduce the land that was being appropriated, fencing off at least a third of it and placing signs warning that it belongs to the community.

Currently, the land containing the landfill is without any type of closure. The municipal president, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel, commented that he recently met with the secretary general of the Government of Jalisco, Enrique Ibarra Pedroza, to ask for support to be able to intervene and act in federal zones, since, being a federal matter, «it does not depend on them».

«There have been several meetings with the director of the Conagua, who sent a proposal, but it is very far from what we need; then we seek to rethink it […] they offered approach, advice and willingness to come, but we are looking for authority and power to intervene and act», assured the mayor.

Translated by Patrick O’Heffernan

The site was delimited with police tape. Illustration photo.  

Staff.- Three bodies were discovered in a well on the federal highway from Tuxcueca to San Luis Soyatlan, half a kilometer from the municipal cemetery, thanks to an anonymous tip received by the Municipal Police.

Personnel from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Police corroborated the fact and Civil Protection went to the place to extract the bodies. 

The recovered bodies were armed and had bullet wounds in the skull, and were found in a well that is 10-15 meters deep (about 30-50 feet). They were handed over to the Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences, according to the statement issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Translated by Nita Rudy