Omar García Harfuch promised to arrest all those responsible for the murder of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, president of the Apatzingán Citrus Growers Association.
Mexico City, October 22 (However).- The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuchreported this Wednesday that another detention related to the murder of lemon leader Bernardo Bravo Manríquezwhich would be the second arrest in the last 24 hours.
“A few moments ago, the authorities of the state of Michoacan in coordination with the Security Cabinet They had another arrest of this unfortunate homicide and operations will continue. That is a commitment where the operations of the Security Cabinet together with the authorities of Michoacan they are going to increase until they stop all the responsible of this homicide and many others in this region,” said the official in his appearance before senators.
Just yesterday, Tuesday, the arrest of Rigoberto “N”, alias “El Pantano”, identified as the alleged operational leader of a criminal group dedicated to the collection of fees and extortion of lemon producers in Apatzingán, Michoacán, was made, and who is identified as one of those responsible for the murder of the lemon leader.
As a result of investigative work after the murder of Bernardo Bravo, leader of citrus growers in the region, an operation was carried out in Michoacán led by elements of @Defensamx1in coordination with @FiscaliaMichauthorities of the @GabSeguridadMX and of @GobMichoacan,… pic.twitter.com/vImUgQekFx
— Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) October 21, 2025
The first capture was carried out during an operation led by elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense), in coordination with the SSPC, the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the National Guard (GN), the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) of Michoacán and local authorities.
According to a statement, Rigoberto “N” was identified as “operational head of a criminal cell dedicated to the collection of fees and extortion from lemon trees.” The authorities located him after intelligence work derived from the homicide of Bravo Manríquez, which occurred yesterday in the municipality of Apatzingán.
Harfuch defends security strategy
The Secretary said before the Senate of the Republic that the national security strategy is giving concrete and measurable results. During his appearance as part of the gloss on the first Government report, the official highlighted that the security policy implemented by the Administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum has allowed a 32 percent reduction in intentional homicides nationwide. In addition, it reported on the arrest of 35,817 people, as well as the capture of priority and high-impact objectives as part of the actions coordinated with state and municipal authorities.
García Harfuch also highlighted the consolidation of the National Guard, which already has at least 132 thousand elements deployed throughout the country. He also highlighted the reforms promoted to strengthen the National Public Security System, as well as the measures aimed at improving intelligence and criminal investigation work. After his participation in the plenary session, the official was approached by the media who questioned him about the effectiveness of the security strategy, particularly after the murder of Bernardo Bravo, a lemon leader from Michoacán who was a victim of homicide after denouncing acts of extortion.
In this regard, García Harfuch responded that, although regrettable events persist in different regions of the country, the results of the strategy headed by President Sheinbaum show clear progress.
“Well, when we present the progress of the strategy headed by President Claudia Sheinbaum in terms of security, we are not saying that there are no longer crimes or that there are no longer crimes or that events as regrettable as they happen in several states of the Republic do not happen,” he explained.
The Secretary maintained that the reduction in homicides is an example of the progress achieved, and highlighted a 32 percent reduction in this crime, he noted.
Asked how he would rate the strategy, Harfuch insisted that the results are measurable and positive; Furthermore, he added that the objective of the current administration is to continue advancing in the pacification of the country:
“We are going to advance every year in the pacification of the country, and this year, which is already the first year of the Administration, we are very much in favor of what we started,” he stated.