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Rocha Moya's return as governor is a 'personal determination,' says Interior Ministry; investigation continues
🇲🇽 Mexico /Elections & Politics

Rocha Moya's return as governor is a 'personal determination,' says Interior Ministry; investigation continues

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • Rubén Rocha Moya has resumed his duties as governor of Sinaloa after over three months.
  • The Interior Ministry stated his return was a personal decision, while the Attorney General's Office continues its investigation.
  • Rocha Moya asserts there is no evidence against him, following accusations from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Rubén Rocha Moya has officially resumed his position as governor of Sinaloa, more than three months after facing accusations from the United States linking him to criminal groups. Mexico's Interior Ministry (Segob) characterized his return as a "personal determination."

The decision of Dr. Rubén Rocha Moya to return to his duties as governor of the state of Sinaloa responds exclusively to a determination of a personal nature.

— Secretariat of the Interior (Segob)Official statement on Rocha Moya's return to his post.

The Attorney General's Office (FGR) confirmed that investigations related to the accusations, which include ten individuals named by the U.S. Department of Justice, remain open. Segob reiterated that it is the FGR's responsibility to provide further information as investigations progress. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly asked the U.S. to provide evidence supporting the allegations.

Rocha Moya stated on social media that he is fulfilling his "duty to the people of Sinaloa." He asserted that after 112 days of investigation, the FGR has found no evidence of criminal conduct on his part. He believes there are insufficient grounds to support any allegations of wrongdoing under Mexico's constitutional and legal framework.

There are no minimum elements of proof that support our participation in any criminal conduct, meaning I have not committed any crime, in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework of our country.

— Rubén Rocha MoyaGovernor's statement on the lack of evidence against him.

The Interior Ministry expressed respect for the authority of competent institutions and due process in any investigation. Rocha Moya's return follows a temporary leave of absence, during which Yeraldine Bonilla Valverde served as interim governor. The president of the Political Coordination Board of the Sinaloa Congress affirmed that Rocha Moya's reinstatement is legal, as federal judicial authorities have found no evidence against him.

It is legal the reincorporation to the position of constitutional governor of Rubén Rocha Moya, since the federal judicial authority has already determined that there are no elements of proof against him.

— Eligio López PortilloPresident of the Political Coordination Board of the Sinaloa Congress on the legality of Rocha Moya's return.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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