Tulum Engineers Re-elect Official Amid Scandal

TULUM — Members of the College of Engineers and Architects of Tulum AC have re-elected Jesús Hernández Valencia as president, despite his recent denunciation before the Municipal Comptroller's Office for an alleged conflict of interest during his tenure as a public official. The election defined the slate that will head the organization's Seventh Board of Directors for the 2026–2028 term.

Hernández Valencia headed the "For the love of Tulum, united we are CIAT" ticket. His re-election comes less than a month after a formal complaint was filed against him by another member of the college, Fernando Aznar Pavón, who serves on the organization's Council of Honor and Justice. The complaint questions Hernández Valencia's actions while he simultaneously served as the General Director of Planning for the municipal administration of Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo and as president of the professional college.

Allegations of Dual Roles and Legal Violations

The complaint alleges that Jesús Hernández Valencia, while holding the position of Director General of Planning for the city council, also signed documents as the responsible expert for construction work on various high-value building permits. This duality of functions, according to the allegation, could contravene the Federal Law on Administrative Responsibilities of Public Servants, which mandates that public officials abstain from intervening in matters where a conflict of interest exists.

Fernando Aznar Pavón indicated that this situation placed Hernández Valencia in a position of being "judge and party," as he was involved in both the governmental issuance of permits and their technical validation from the professional association. The complaint further states that some of these licenses may lack legal validity, as they were allegedly not issued in accordance with the current Construction Regulations or the provisions of the Law on Human Settlements, Territorial Planning and Urban Development of the State of Quintana Roo.

Timeline of Appointments and Roles

Public information from the Municipal Internal Control Body shows that Jesús Hernández Valencia was appointed General Director of Planning by Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo at the beginning of his second term on September 30, 2024. He held the position until September 29, 2025.

Mayor Castañón Trejo made the appointment despite knowing Hernández Valencia was simultaneously president of the College of Engineers and Architects of Tulum and a managing partner of the civil engineering company Sumando 5KO, details which were publicly disclosed in the official's declaration of interests. Upon leaving the city council position on September 29, 2025, Hernández Valencia remained president of the college and continued in his role at Sumando 5KO.

Context of Municipal Governance and a Second Allegation

The College of Engineers and Architects of Tulum brings together professionals in urban development, construction, and infrastructure planning, sectors that have grown in relevance amid the municipality's rapid expansion. This growth, however, has been marked by significant disorder attributed to the government of Mayor Diego Castañón, who is accused of sabotaging the implementation of an Urban Development Program approved at the end of his first administration.

The case against Hernández Valencia is described as the second notorious act of corruption in the appointment of public officials in Tulum. The first and reportedly more serious case involved Mayor Castañón appointing his cousin, Ramiro Diego Castañón Chávez, as director of Urban Development—an act characterized as clear nepotism in another area related to construction permits.

The complaint regarding Jesús Hernández Valencia has been filed with the city council's Internal Control Body, but the body has not yet acted. This inaction has generated suspicion of complicit protection toward the former official, a suspicion that the complaint notes is similar to the perceived protection afforded to the mayor's cousin in the nepotism case.

The new board of directors of the college is expected to coordinate the organization's activities, promote member participation in municipal development projects, and strengthen the association's presence in technical and professional matters.