ASF Exposes $460M Mismanagement in Quintana Roo Towns

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The federal audit of 2023 public accounts has revealed that nine municipalities in Quintana Roo must clarify or return 459.65 million pesos in federal funds, while exposing discrepancies in the state auditor’s oversight. The Auditoría Superior de la Federación (ASF) identified mismanagement, pending clarifications, and potential harm to public finances across all municipalities except Tulum, contradicting the clean reports issued by the state auditor, Miguel Zogby Cheluja Martínez.

Majority of Irregularities Concentrated in Benito Juárez

The ASF’s audit found that 63% of the unaccounted funds—291.565 million pesos—belong to the municipality of Benito Juárez, governed by Ana Patricia Peralta de la Peña. This amount represents 95.1% of the audited sample, prompting demands for repayment if proper documentation is not provided.

Key findings include:

• 50 million pesos in unverified fuel expenses for municipal vehicles.
• 241.435 million pesos in irregular payments to Celsol (operating as Óptima Energía), the public lighting concessionaire in Cancún, without updated infrastructure records or proof of maintenance.

The ASF concluded that Benito Juárez "did not efficiently manage the Federal Participations funds for 2023." Additionally, the municipality violated laws in administering 279.493 million pesos from the Faismun social infrastructure fund, failing to prove benefits to target populations or justify project expenses.

State Auditor’s Oversight Under Scrutiny

While the ASF flagged violations in eight Morena and PVEM-led municipalities, Cheluja Martínez’s Aseqroo reported no irregularities—except in the PAN-governed Solidaridad (now Playa del Carmen), then led by Lili Campos Miranda. The ASF identified 90.483 million pesos in unsubstantiated expenses in Solidaridad, but Aseqroo flagged nearly double that amount (174.048 million pesos) in local funds, raising questions about political bias.

Bacalar’s Severe Mismanagement

Bacalar, governed by José Alfredo Contreras Méndez ("Chepe"), ranked third in irregularities with 33.29 million pesos unaccounted for—nearly 10% of its 398.387-million-peso budget. The ASF found:

• 18.337 million pesos in Faismun funds spent on non-operational or substandard projects.
• 14.953 million pesos in federal participations lacking procurement documentation.

Despite these findings, Aseqroo reported no issues in Bacalar.

Tulum Only Municipality Cleared by ASF

Tulum, under Diego Castañón Trejo, was the sole municipality without irregularities in the federal audit. The ASF confirmed proper documentation for 8.485 million pesos in federal participations.

Discrepancies Highlight Political Concerns

The ASF’s findings starkly contrast with Aseqroo’s reports, particularly in Morena/PVEM-led municipalities. Notably, Othón P. Blanco—where Cheluja Martínez previously served as treasurer—was flagged by the ASF but not by Aseqroo.

The audit underscores systemic mismanagement and raises questions about the state auditor’s impartiality. Further reporting will examine Cheluja Martínez’s role in Othón P. Blanco’s finances.