Tulum Municipal Ombudsman Alleges Irregularities in $76 Million Loan Approval

Tulum, Mexico — The municipal ombudsman in Tulum has accused Mayor Diego Castañón Trejo of seeking a 76 million peso loan without providing sufficient information or justification, alleging irregularities in the approval process.

Rifka Queruel Nussbaum, the ombudsman, said the loan request was presented just days before a City Council session in October 2025, leaving her office without adequate details to endorse it. She noted that while Mayor Castañón and Treasurer Vicente Aldape Moncada publicly announced a 50 million peso credit, documents indicated an amount of up to 76 million pesos.

“There was no clear justification or prior analysis,” Queruel Nussbaum stated, explaining why she did not support the request. She also highlighted that, under the statutes of the Labor Party (PT), to which she belongs, approving debt without a priority cause could lead to internal sanctions.

Queruel Nussbaum further alleged that the administration has obstructed her oversight duties over municipal finances. She claimed she has not received quarterly treasury reports on income and expenditures and that the Office of the Mayor, led by Juan Antonio Garza Pérez, ignores or fails to respond to her official communications.

The ombudsman described the situation in Tulum as “complicated and complex,” criticizing what she called unjustified layoffs affecting workers with up to 17 years of service, many notified after completing full pay periods. She said the cuts impact basic staff, including civil protection, firefighters, and public safety personnel, some with over a decade of service, who earn around 4,000 pesos monthly.

Queruel Nussbaum questioned the inconsistency of maintaining personal drivers and escorts for high-ranking directors while laying off operational and health staff. She has filed complaints with the Municipal Internal Control Office regarding potential irregularities in layoffs, tenders, and administrative processes, emphasizing that her stance aims to highlight irregular practices and defend workers’ rights and citizens’ interests.