In October 2011 Senator Luisa Maria Calderon (PAN) was in a tight Michoacán governor campaign against PRI candidate Fausto Vallejo Figueroa. Calderon, the sister of the former president of Mexico, accused the children of Vallejo Figueroa of having links to the Caballeros Templarios organized crime group.
In November 13, 2011, the election was held. According to the "official" results Vallejo won the election, narrowly defeating Calderon by less than 3%. Vallejo received only 35% of the total vote.
Rumors persisted of clandestine meetings between Vallejo’s representatives and Templarios and of hefty financial backing by Templarios, in addition to imposing "influence" where needed. After the election social media never abated from issuing statements that Vallejo and his cabinet were Templarios puppets, and that family members were working directly with the cartel.
Vallejo then fell ill and needed a liver transplant. Ultimately he took a medical leave of absence in April 2013, he left the state in the hands of one of his appointees, Jesus Reyna. Reyna was Secretary General for the state before serving as acting governor during Vallejo’s leave.
Vallejo traveled to Chicago where he underwent liver transplant surgery at the end of April, 2013.
This was six weeks succeeding the founding of the Autodefensas of Michoacán.
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Acting Governor Reyna
Vallejo traveled to Chicago where he underwent liver transplant surgery at the end of April, 2013.
This was six weeks succeeding the founding of the Autodefensas of Michoacán.
Autodefensas have not been shy about speaking of the collusion between the state government and Templarios, and blamed the relationship for the violence against citizens, lack of security and absence of the rule of law. They were very critical of Reyna.
Vallejo returned to his governorship role on October 23, 2013, and Reyna returned to his former duties.
Vallejo returned to his governorship role on October 23, 2013, and Reyna returned to his former duties.
That is until April 2014 when Reyna was arrested. He was charged with aiding and complicity with organized crime. Among the supporting elements against the former acting governor, are statements, financial records and a video showing a meeting with Tuta. Although not specific, the PGR Criminal Investigation Agency, stated they had also conducted various forensic tests.
"Jesus Reyna held several meetings with members of organized crime; reports from various authorities, video evidence and forensic tests confirmed the above, "said Barrientos Archundia of the PGR agency.
Dr. Manuel Mireles, leader of Michoacán’s autodefensas made a statement at the time, “he did not work alone, he is but one, there are many more”. (in state government)
Reyna’s new home is in Mexico’s sole supermax prison, the Federal Social Rehabilitation Center No. 1, Altiplano in Almoloya, State of Mexico.
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Today a blurry photo was released that is reportedly, of a meeting between Vallejos son, Tuta and others. It looks like a still frame of security footage. The date of either the video or the screenshot, may have been in January, 2012. That is the date stamp history of the foto, time at 3:25 AM.
The meeting location looks like the same location of another infamous Tuta meeting. His meeting with Lazaro Cardenas officials.
April 2014 a video surfaced of a meeting with Tuta and the mayor of Lazaro Cardenas, (see left lower) along with other municipal government officials including president of the avocado association. A video of the meeting was released on April 28th. After the video surfaced, Archimedes Oseguera Mayor Lazaro Cardenas, was arrested, Omar Soto, treasurer of the same council also arrested, along with José Valladares, former mayor of Apatzingán, Marvin Toledo Gill, senior city officer.
Tuta and Gerber
On June 5, 2014 a video audio was released supposedly of Caballeros Templarios leader Servando Gomez aka La Tuta and Governor Vallejo's son Rodrigo Vallejo aka El Gerber.
On the audio Tuta is heard giving instructions to Gerber. Autodefensas have been insisting that there were video tapes of meetings between Tuta and Gerber, found at a safe house during an operation sometime last year.
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The Governor says his “son” was kidnapped
June 10, 2014, Vallejo goes on local television giving a bizarre interview, in which he causally drops a bomb. He is now claiming that one of his sons had been kidnapped by organized crime while he was ill. Without giving one detail, or even which son was kidnapped, he went on to say that his family are good citizens, none having any connection to organized crime, nor does any one of them deserve to be denigrated as they have been. He says the family did not file a report with authorities.
Then he went on to speak in generalities
“We are people (Michoacana) who do not deserve to be disparaged, I'll say it powerfullyto be understood. There are people who believe that all Michoacános are assholes, that we obviously do not understand issues, and we are corrupt. We are not fools, nor are Michoacanos corrupt”, he stated.
He was asked why he waited so long to make the kidnapping public, “what good does singing about it do?” he answered.
It is easy to surmise that perhaps someone is hoping the public will remember the kidnapping story when the video surface of his son with Tuta.
Governor Vallejo had long planned to leave to the United States at the end of June for his annual media checkup. However, for whatever reason, and sans explanation for the early departure, he left today June 14th.
Before parting he stated, that even though subsequent to his convalescence, he resumed his role as governor, the US physicians had advised not to go back to work, ordering him to “to live a quiet life”. And that this time, he will await the results of his testing and the advice of his physicians to decide what to do in the future. He will be gone week to the states.
Today June 14
The meeting location looks like the same location of another infamous Tuta meeting. His meeting with Lazaro Cardenas officials.
The president of the Association of Producers and Exporting Packers of Avocado Michoacán (APEAM), Sergio Roberto Urbina, submitted his resignation after the video released by Uchepo Vengador, went viral, in the video Urbina appears with Servando Gómez Martínez, La Tuta.
In resigning he stated:
"In light of the developments that have arisen from a video posted on Tuesday, April 29, of this year and to keep the Association and Program free of any negative effects, I do willingly submit my resignation as president APEAM AC, which is irrevocable.
He went on to clarify, that his resignation does not mean taking responsibility for what is presumed in the video.
"I have nothing to hide” further saying, he resigned so that “competent authorities” can remove doubts about him and hold harmless his reputation.
As for El Gerber, son of the governor, purportedly, footage or videos will be released soon, of his meetings with Tuta. One would imagine he would then meet the same fate as the Lazaro group, and one can imagine his father would then be a former governor, retiring “on the advice of his physicians; to lead a quieter life”.
Photos top and bottom are from Valor por Michoacan SDR
Photos top and bottom are from Valor por Michoacan SDR