“Chanito” Toledo Faces Jail Over Aguakan Water Scandal

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — As the imminent revocation of Aguakan’s concession looms, residents and officials are demanding judicial action against the political figures who facilitated the controversial privatization of water services in northern Quintana Roo. Among them is Playa del Carmen councilman José Luis Toledo Medina, known as “Chanito” Toledo, whose role in extending the concession has drawn sharp criticism.

A Legacy of Controversy

In 2014, as president of the State Congress’s Gran Comisión, Toledo Medina backed a reform extending Aguakan’s concession until 2053, granting Desarrollos Hidráulicos de Cancún S.A. de C.V. control over water, drainage, and sanitation services in Benito Juárez, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, and Solidaridad. Critics accuse him of betraying public trust by enabling years of water shortages, abusive billing practices, and unconstitutional service cuts.

Toledo Medina, who has held multiple elected offices—including federal deputy, gubernatorial pre-candidate, and current councilman representing disabled citizens—has faced allegations of prioritizing personal gain over public welfare. His involvement in the concession’s extension has fueled outrage over his ties to Aguakan and lack of accountability for the company’s exploitative practices.

Lucrative Contracts and Missing Funds

Investigations reveal that Toledo Medina’s companies benefited from lucrative government contracts tied to Aguakan’s operations. As majority shareholder of Playarent del Caribe S.A. de C.V., he secured a 47.7 million peso contract to build an access road for the Cristo Rey neighborhood. Another firm linked to him, Construcciones y Desarrollos Padrín S.A. de C.V., received over 28 million pesos for water and lighting infrastructure in the same area.

His tenure as treasurer of Solidaridad (now Playa del Carmen) from 2011 to 2013 was marred by accusations of embezzling 686 million pesos in municipal funds, including 300 million from a short-term loan and 386 million earmarked for unfinished or nonexistent projects, such as security arches for Playa del Carmen’s highway exits.

Public Outcry for Accountability

With Aguakan’s concession nearing its end, residents are urging legal consequences for those responsible for the prolonged mismanagement. Toledo Medina’s history of alleged corruption, manipulation of vulnerable communities, and unfulfilled promises has cemented his reputation as a polarizing figure.

“Justice must reach these political sociopaths who deceive the people to steal what rightfully belongs to them,” the article states, underscoring demands for transparency and restitution.

The case highlights broader concerns over privatization and governance in Quintana Roo, as citizens await decisive action against those implicated in the Aguakan scandal.