Municipal council likely in Tepeyahualco after mayor’s arrest and deputy’s death

Tepeyahualco is likely to be placed under a municipal governing council after the arrest of Mayor Said de Jesús Godos Luna and the death of the official designated to replace him.

Puebla’s Congress will decide who assumes control of the municipality. Under the state’s Municipal Organic Law, the town council should provisionally appoint the mayor’s substitute or a councillor while the succession is resolved.

That procedure is complicated because the substitute was Karla Pilar Ponce de León Islas, the mayor’s wife and director of the municipal DIF agency. She died in September 2025. State Interior Secretary Samuel Aguilar said officials are reviewing the situation under the law.

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In the case of Tepeyahualco, the substitute was the former mayor’s wife; she is no longer alive, so it is being reviewed.

“In the case of Tepeyahualco, the substitute was the former mayor’s wife; she is no longer alive, so it is being reviewed,” Aguilar said. He added that the substitute or a councillor would take temporary charge, depending on what the town council determines.

Aguilar said the most likely outcome is the creation of a municipal council. Prosecutors arrested Godos Luna in the municipality of San Juan Xiutetelco after investigation agents located him and carried out a judicial arrest warrant. He is suspected of abuse of authority, failure to perform a legal duty and bribery.

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The most likely outcome is the creation of a municipal council.