The Attorney General of Jalisco (PGJ) arrested four people
last week for their alleged role in the killing of five people – Armando Gomez,
56, his son, Francisco Ismael Gomez Salcedo, 21, and three other teenage
students – at the Student Federation of Guadalajara building (FEG) last
December 9.
Now, however, it seems that the four arrested teenagers, aged 13, 15, 17 and 19, may have been
unwilling participants.
The four teenagers were first
thought to have confessed to having participated in the killing of the five individuals. However, it seems now that they
almost certainly acted under duress, and may have only assisted in the disposal
of the bodies.
The 19 year old, Gerardo Godoy, as well as the three younger students, who cannot be named, have testified that it was the new FEG
President David Castorena Peña who was responsible for killing of the father, son, and three other students.
There are two theories as to motive: either Gomez Salcedo
did not want to pay increased “derecho-de-piso” fees being charged by the FEG
for running his “churros” stands (a deep fried dough); or Gomez Salcedo was
himself involved in the extortion racket, and had been pocketing monies
intended for Castorena Peña and/or the FEG.
Godoy, who along with the other teenagers acted as a
coordinator for the FEG, testified that he saw Gomez having a heated argument
with caretaker Gerardo Flores Gomez, also known as “The Tattoed” (El Tatuadao)
on union grounds, whereupon both of them entered the building and went into Gomez
Salcedo’s office.
In that room were four people: Castorena, the caretaker “El
Tatuado”, Gomez and his son. Apparently, there were also staff in the building along
with the three other teenagers.
According to testimony by Godoy, two shots were heard, and a
bloodstained carpet was removed. The teenagers were then forced to dispose of the
bodies by digging shallow graves on the union grounds.
Hardly worth dying for
Meanwhile, to avoid having witnesses who might implicate
them (it was assumed, presumably, that the staff and the teenagers would remain
silent), the three other students who came with Gomez and his son were stabbed
to death. These students had been bound and gagged in an office in the building
during the ordeal. They, too, were disposed of in makeshift graves on the
grounds.
Accomplices?
The PGJ is now looking for fourteen people who might be
involved in the murders, including Castorena, the caretaker “El Tatuado”, and
the former president Israel Mariscal. All have ignored a subpoena filed by
prosecutors.
The implication of other participants is due in part to the
fact that, directly after the shots were fired, Godoy stated that Castorena
came out of his office to make several phone calls.
As well, months before the murders were committed, Castorena
and others pursued legal injunction against detention, known as a “writ of amparo”.
Authorities believe that some of these protections may involve his
closest collaborators.
Seeking such injunction is not uncommon in Mexico; this is because
Mexican law allows suspects and even witnesses to be held for extended periods
of time.
Mexico does not have habeas
corpus, which allows for a prisoner to be released from unlawful detention
(i.e. lacking sufficient cause or evidence). Instead, the system is left largely
to the discretion of judges. The writ of amparo partially reversed the harsh
Napoleonic Code, and assured that some individuals can be presumed to be
innocent, or at least protected from detention.
Apparently, Castorena Peña and others filed for this
protection, and lived under it, at least from September 2, 2011. Others under
this protection included Gustavo Buenrostro Hernández, Gustavo David Pérez
Íñiguez y Martín Isaac Pérez Góme.
While a writ of amparo is not an admission of guilt, it is
an acknowledgement that the authorities may have interest in detaining certain
individuals. In the past – and many would say to this day, as well – Mexican judges
would offer a writ of amparo for a personal fee. As a result, the rich and
well-connected could often avoid prosecution.
To read more about this case, including the nature and history
of the FEG, and accusations that the FEG extorts money from street vendors in
exchange for the so-called “derecho de piso,” or dues, please refer to these
articles from La politica es la politica:
Twitter: @TimothyEWilson
Email: lapoliticaeslapolitica [at] gmail [dot] com
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