CEAPP Demands Justice for Journalist Murdered in Poza Rica, Veracruz; Calls for Investigation with Freedom of Expression Perspective

The State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists (CEAPP) has strongly condemned the assassination of Luis Ángel López Valdez, director of the publication Reportaje Policiaco Veracruzano and reporter for Vanguardia de Veracruz. López Valdez was killed early Thursday morning in the city of Poza Rica.

In a public statement, the autonomous body expressed its solidarity with the journalist's family, friends, and colleagues. CEAPP urgently called upon authorities to conduct a professional and exhaustive investigation, emphasizing the need for a freedom of expression perspective to fully clarify the events and guarantee access to justice.

The commission highlighted its support for the demand that the violent incidents in Poza Rica be investigated comprehensively. CEAPP stressed that the victim's journalistic work should be considered a potential line of inquiry to prevent the case from going unpunished. The organization reaffirmed its rejection of any aggression or violence against journalists and media outlets, viewing such acts as a direct threat to the exercise of freedom of expression and society's right to be informed.

CEAPP urged the relevant authorities to expedite their investigations, identify those responsible, and ensure the safety conditions necessary for those practicing journalism across all regions of Veracruz. The commission pledged its continued commitment to accompanying the victim's family and closely following the investigation's progress, as the journalistic community demands justice for López Valdez's murder. This incident adds to a concerning pattern, following the disappearance of journalist Roxana Ramírez, who was abducted from her home by armed individuals.