We conclude this conversation with Secretary of Security Omar García Harfuch. First, I want to ask you, Secretary, about the issue of comrade Ciro Gómez Leyva. Can it be determined that it was the Jalisco Cartel that requested his execution?
Yes, at the time, when we conducted the investigation by the Mexico City police and the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office, everything indicated that the first detainees were… All the evidence that was reported to the victim of the attack at the time indicated that it was a Jalisco Cartel cell, and that was the case.
It was acknowledged until the end. Now, some have been sentenced by the Attorney General’s Office, which later took over the case. Of the arrests that had been made in the city, was the Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes the one who ordered it?
There is no evidence that it was him directly.
The cell that attacked Ciro did indeed belong to this group, to this criminal group, and not necessarily, as some declared, on the leader’s orders. Not necessarily, that. As far as I’m concerned, we stayed in the investigation.
There was no direct statement or anything that implicated him. He directly mentioned it, but the organization did. Oh, Nemesio Oseguera wasn’t mentioned. He was not mentioned directly in the statements we obtained in Mexico City. No, sorry, I’ll repeat. Ah, in the prosecutor’s office, yes, it was in the prosecutor’s office. This one referred directly to Mencho, but what is absolutely confirmed is the Jalisco cartel. Yes, of course. Any idea of the motive? We don’t have any knowledge of the motive, but the investigation was very clear, very clear that each of the detainees was directly involved in the attack. Now, the direct involvement of each of the detainees in the attack was established. There’s talk that
some of these hitmen were trained somewhere in Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco. Is it known? Were they? What were they found? There were several, uh, a couple of places that the Ministry of National Defense went to check at the time. uh, they didn’t find any training centers. Others have been found in Jalisco like the ones we’ve reported, but specifically that one in Ciudad Guzmán related to that one?
uh, to conclude, Secretary. Well, first, I have to ask you, there’s no way because everyone was worried about your mother. Oh, thank you. That was fake news. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, she realized it. I hadn’t realized it. Many hours later, she also realized it and posted a message. I mean, didn’t you realize that you were there first? The rumor that she had been kidnapped and such. No, they didn’t realize it. I was already in meetings. They had already talked about my job when they showed it to me. No, nothing, they already had the remedy and the rag, I mean, they say this. But mom is fine. Okay, how good. Well, greetings, then, Secretary, to the citizens, we talk a lot about politicians and relations with the United States, the governors, and the prosecutors’ offices, and the citizens, how Omar García is directed, how he relates to Harfochos. Well, right now, obviously, contact with the citizens is very different from what we had in Mexico City. As chief of police, you have neighborhood meetings every week with residents of the 16 municipalities, to the point that he is almost head of government. Here in the Ministry of Security, it is very different because it is also a different job and a different dynamic. So here, our best way to connect with the citizens is by delivering results, and that is the president’s instruction, and that is what we are working on, the citizens who have almost blind faith in their work. That should also be the case. We truly are a burden to the citizens. One thing we can assure you is that there is a security cabinet that is dedicated to one thing every day: security. With officials, for example, the Secretary of National Defense, General Trevilla, is a man with more than 40 years of experience in the military in security matters. He has been working in this field for many years. Admiral Morales also has more than 40 years of experience. Both have traveled the country, highly experienced people in security, and so that is the security cabinet. Okay, well, Secretary, thank you. I don’t want to ask you, but what do you do with the doubts that suddenly arise? Are you doing well in the Ministry of Security? Do you remember with nostalgia Mexico City when you wanted to be a candidate? Do you think you can do it again, or are you already going for it? No, not at all. The Mexico City police force was a job, as we also mentioned here with you, that didn’t allow for parallel agendas. That’s why we resigned at the time. And here in the Ministry of Security, imagine, 8 months of government, we have a very, very demanding job and an instruction from the president that we cannot fail. And as long as the president decides we are in this position, well, we’ll be here because what’s interesting about Mexico City is that. I mean, the Secretary of Security wasn’t a politician, that’s why the pre-candidacy was surprising. He wasn’t a politician, but the results came as a surprise. People saw them, and then they said, “Well, Omar García Harfuch is a good candidate. The same thing could happen in ’20. In Mexico City, there was more direct contact with the people, and it’s a very different dynamic than what we have right now in the federal government. Right now, as Secretary of Security, you have to follow the instructions given by the president or the cabinet and pay attention to the 32 states of the Republic, in absolute coordination, some more than others, with the federal entities. Well, good luck, Secretary. It’s not easy. I know. I really appreciate your willingness to take the time. I think it’s important that people see it, hear it, and perceive that you’re close, that the reports will be addressed, and that the intention is to reduce violence. It’s not easy, but in these eight months, there have been very good results, although we still have to wait. Regarding the disappearances, but I suppose it’s 8 months, and there’s time, right? And we’re going to work too. Of course, I’m very grateful. Secretary, take care of yourselves. Thank you. Well, here we’re going to take this, the riskiest step because the secretary is leaving. Thank you, Omar García Harfuch.
