According to a report in the digital newspaper El Far, at least 1,500 boxes of food with Salvadoran government badges were distributed in northern Mexico by a mayoral candidate.
An aspiring mayor of the municipality of Tlahualilo, in the state of Durango in northern Mexico, distributed 1,500 packets of food to his potential voters in December.
This was normal, but the boxes he handed out had the logos of the Salvadoran Government, the Health Emergency Program (PES) printed on them and were labeled “Social Welfare”, according to a publication in the digital newspaper El Far.
The packages were distributed by Juan Carlos Cazares Sandoval, who is shaping up as a candidate for mayor of Tlahualilo by the official party, Bruna.
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According to the publication of the Lighthouse, the cast was made on December 24, 2020 and then advertised on the official Facebook page next to the candidate in question.
“In support of the homes of the different ejidos that make up the irrigation module delivered today, December 24, 2020, the amount of 1,500 very well stocked pantries, which is equivalent to 30 tons of food “, was highlighted on the Cazares page, according to the Salvadoran digital medium.
In October 2020, the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador forced the Government of President Nayib Bukele to label all food aid packaging with the caption “This food package has been paid for with your taxes.”
Lawmakers passed this measure to prevent public officials from taking electoral benefits from the grocery distribution. This legend is visible in the packages paid by the Salvadorans and received by Mexican citizens.
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The delivery of packages with Government of El Salvador logos was denounced by Cazares’ political opponents, who demanded an explanation for distributions of food packages, which appear to come from Salvadoran public funds.
The Nayib Bukele government sent contingents of aid paid for by Salvadorans to Honduras and Guatemala, there is no record of having approved or sent packages to Tlahualilo or anywhere else in Mexico.
Possible irregularities in the execution of the food program of the Government has led to the Court of Auditors having several examinations in progress, as stated by magistrates of the controlling body previously, which confirmed to El Far, according to is recorded in the report.
In its note, El Far reports that it has contacted the candidate Cazares Sandoval, who delivered the packages, to get some explanation, but they have not received a response.
Opponents of Cazares Sandoval point out that the delivery of aid with the Salvadoran badges “is an incongruity” because in Mexico, “on cruises, Salvadorans remain begging to be able to eat. I do not know who has allowed this,” said Carlos Avalos Sandoval, president of the National Action Party (PAN) in the city of Tlahualilo.
For Pedro Sánchez Pérez, of the ejido Campana, of Tlahualilo, it is unfortunate that these resources are used in this way.
“We know that in El Salvador they are poorer than us then we want them to investigate thoroughly because we also know that Module 6 is a step for the Municipal Presidency,” he said.