"Pact with criminals": Anaya blames the government for the murder of a teacher in Veracruz

On the afternoon of July 24, the discovery of the body of Irma Hernández Cruz, a retired teacher and taxi driver, shook the municipality of Álamo Temapache, Veracruz. Her body was found on a ranch near Tuxpan, after she had been kidnapped days earlier and forced to record a video under threat. The crime sparked national outrage and a strong political response.

Among the most forceful reactions was that of PAN Senator Ricardo Anaya Cortés, who directly blamed the federal government for the murder, arguing that organized crime operates with impunity thanks to an alleged pact with the authorities.

In a public message, Ricardo Anaya was emphatic:

"The brutal execution of Irma Hernández Cruz is not an isolated incident. It is the starkest reflection of the security crisis Mexico is experiencing, a crisis fueled by the pact between those in power and criminals."

The former PAN presidential candidate asserted that what happened in Veracruz represents an act of criminal terrorism. He denounced the federal strategy of "hugs, not bullets" as having led to a policy of complacency that allows criminal groups to control entire areas of the country.

"Impunity is no coincidence. It has become the norm because those who should be fighting crime have made a pact with it," he stated.

Faced with media and political pressure, both President Claudia Sheinbaum and Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García have spoken out publicly.

From the National Palace, Sheinbaum asked not to jump to conclusions and emphasized that the Federal Government is strengthening its national strategy against extortion.

"First, we need to understand how this woman died and the context in which it occurred. We're working against extortion, and we're already seeing results," he declared.

For her part, Rocío Nahle stated that, for security reasons, details of the investigation would not be revealed, but she guaranteed that the crime would not go unpunished.

Hours after the body was discovered, the Veracruz State Attorney General's Office reported the arrest of three alleged members of the Sombra Group, a criminal cell affiliated with the Gulf Cartel.

The detainees were identified as:

• Victor Manuel “N”, alias El Cholo or Moyo
• José Manuel “N”, alias El Gastón or Águila
• Jeana Paola “N”, alleged active member of the same group

Authorities maintain that the three are directly linked to the kidnapping, dissemination of the video, and murder of Irma Hernández.

The murder of Irma Hernández Cruz not only highlights the violence many women experience in areas controlled by organized crime, but also reveals the political tension surrounding the national security strategy.

While the government insists on a strategy of social containment rather than direct confrontation, the opposition demands more forceful responses and denounces growing permissiveness toward criminal groups.

This case has rekindled the debate on impunity, institutional complicity, and the urgent need for comprehensive reform of security and justice in Mexico.