Frontera NorteSur, July 1999

Escape Tunnel Discovered In CERESO

During the first days of June, authorities from the Assistant Attorney General's Office in Cd. Juárez, in conjunction with Suly Ponce from the Special Task Force of Crimes Against Women, discovered a secret tunnel within the walls of the Center for Social Rehabilitation (CERESO). The tunnel ran approximately 21 meters in length and the inmates using it for their escape plan were only a couple of yards away from breaking free.

Suly Ponce told members of the press that an anonymous phone call was received by her office in which details were provided about the tunnel. According to Ponce, the person reporting the crime decided to call the task force because they are "trustworthy" and "will ensure a proper investigation is conducted."

However, while Ponce claims that it was her office that lead prison authorities to the discovery of the tunnel, the state attorney general differs. The office already suspected a tunnel and had received previous information. "We were investigating the incident but the anonymous telephone call only reassured us that we were right," said the Arturo González Rascon state attorney general for the north zone. González continued by saying that the caller never gave specific locations of where to find the tunnel, despite what Ponce's office might be claiming.

Since the discovery of the escape tunnel that lead from one of CERESO's most secure wings to the outside, investigations on how this went unnoticed have been vast. A number of surprise searches of the prison grounds and the inmates have occurred and authorities are seeking information that would lead them to the arrest of those who participated in the escape plan from outside the prison.

"We are conducting a number of pertinent investigations in order to determine who was directly involved in the planning and digging of this tunnel and when we find out who they are they will have to accept the consequences of their actions," said Ponce. CERESO director, Andrés Mendoza Molina said that over 36 prison inmates as well as guards employed by the correctional facility will be investigated to determine their involvement in the escape plan.

According to authorities the inmates responsible for the digging of the tunnel were four of Juárez scariest criminals, José A. Pereyro, Víctor M. Rivera, Juan C. Sánchez and Espectación Bernal also known as "El Chon."

"Apparently these inmates received help from someone on the outside. Evidence of this is the fact that we found a cellular telephone in their possession, as well as Polaroids of the interior and exterior of the prison. We believe that the location of the exterior photographs show where the tunnel would have surfaced," said Prison Director Mendoza.

Officials believe that the inmates had been digging the tunnel since January of this year and that they used the plumbing system to dispose of the extra dirt. Mendoza said that in January inmates staying in the cell where the tunnel was discovered reported problems with their drainage system. "When the repair work began a lot of dirt was detected. This is why we believe it was when they began digging. They were using the drain to get rid of the excess dirt."

Other investigations have revealed that perhaps former CERESO Director Abelardo Escobar knew of the escape plan and failed to make an official report with corresponding authorities. Escobar has been called to make a formal statement with the local and state police.

After fully inspecting the escape tunnel dug and designed by CERESO inmates, police discovered that they were also hiding an arsenal of firearms inside the tunnel. Authorities also discovered marijuana, cocaine, and high tech building equipment. It is still unclear to prison officials if it was only the four inmates that lived in the cell that participated in planning the escape. A hole linking two cells was also discovered and officials believe that it was used for internal communication between the inmates.

While officials have yet to discover who was aiding the inmates from the outside, one suspicion involves Bernal's pregnant wife who may have hidden the firearms on her body using her pregnancy as a disguise. Another unofficial version is that there was a sort of planned militia forming to aid escapees so that, as Special Task Force for Crimes Against Women Director Suly Ponce claims, the inmates could "destabilize the city."

This is not the first time that a tunnel was discovered on the grounds of the CERESO. In 1995, a 68 meter tunnel provided the ultimate escape route for 17 inmates. After the successful escape state authorities requested that CERESO make some major changes to its facilities. One of the suggestions was reinforced prison walls and deeper barricades around the grounds. However, one prison observer reports that none of these changes ever occurred.

Sources: El Diario, El Norte

Local Official Falsely Accused Of Sexual Assault

A local PRI leader of colonia "Tierra Nueva" (New Land), Emilia Flores Díaz accused another local leader of sexual assault. Flores filed the formal accusation against Andrés de Anda, the director of the Cd. Juárez Department of Human Resources, and two of his coworkers during the first week June.

According to reports from authorities at the Cd. Juárez Police Department, Flores claimed that she was raped with a "stick" and attacked with a hammer that caused serious physical injuries and severe emotional trauma.

Immediately after the accusation was announced and De Anda was informed of Flores' claims of abuse, he filed a counter suit against the woman accusing him of sexual abuse. De Anda filed the suit against Emilia Flores Díaz accusing her of defamation and perjury. The human resources director added that he hopes that Flores will also be tried for lying to authorities.

De Anda made a public statement denying any involvement and said that he had evidence to prove that what Flores was claiming was false. "I emphatically deny these events. The day that she claims the events occurred I was in my office overseeing departmental procedures and meeting with a number of people. I can prove that it would have been practically impossible for me to have been in the place she claims that the incidents happened at that time of day," added De Anda.

The director of the human resources department received support from the general public in fighting these allegations. A number of public meetings were held to show support for De Anda in defeating the allegations. Residents also posted banners and other media paraphernalia around the city to demand immediate resolution of the investigations.

On June 11, representatives from the medical center in conjunction with local police authorities revealed that the accusations presented against De Anda were false. After a number of medical examinations, no evidence of sexual assault was found.

Investigations continue in order to pinpoint the motive of the false accusations. De Anda has announced that he does not believe that Flores was the sole culprit in the defamation act and that he will ensure that anyone involved will be held at responsible.

Source: El Diario