This is how sailors threatened bar staff with long guns in Bacalar to avoid paying the bill

In the early morning of March 25, there was an incident in the streets of Bacalar, Quintana Roo, as elements of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), who were apparently drunk, threatened staff and diners of a bar with long guns to avoid paying the bill for their consumption.

Several witnesses stated that the four sailors were dressed in civilian clothes and out of service in this place located on Calle 7 in the center of Bacalar. After spending several hours inside, they decided to withdraw without settling their account with the establishment.

The managers urged the subjects to make the corresponding payment. However, they went to the vehicle in which they arrived and removed several long guns, with which they aimed at staff and other customers.

Between the atmosphere of terror and several people running to escape a possible shooting, the uniformed men withdrew from the scene. It was learned that the owners of the establishment did not report the incident for fear of reprisals by the seafarers themselves or by Semar itself.

Because the facts were recorded by the establishment's security cameras, the agency claimed that the men do belong to the corporation, so they are already under investigation by the competent authorities.

They also pointed out that their attitude “contradicts the values and principles of naval discipline”, a context sufficient to take legal action against them to collaborate at all times with the objective of determining the conduct of those involved in the event.

“It is important to mention that the action of these personnel is an isolated act committed by a few bad public servants, and is contrary to the conduct that is instilled in the elements of this institution”, the position of the Secretariat of the Navy reads.

They also confirmed that the relevant complaints have already been lodged with the Military Public Prosecutor's Office and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Quintana Roo based in Bacalar, which initiated the corresponding investigations, in order to clarify the facts.

Finally, Semar condemned the situation and assured that it is making a great effort inside to instruct the actions of the elements under the concepts of Human Rights, as well as the institutional values that are Honor, Duty, Loyalty and Patriotism.

“The Secretariat of the Navy-Navy of Mexico does not tolerate this type of action and reiterates the obligation that the Institution has to act for the benefit and support of Mexican society, in order to fulfill the mission of Serving Mexico,” the official document stated.

It is expected that in the next few hours more details will be given regarding the threat from the seafarers, who could obtain an arrest warrant against them if the authorities consider it relevant to clarify the situation of violence they generated in the streets of Bacalar.

Some points are made to Semar about apparent irregularities in its actions against civilians. But one of the most important happened in September 2014, when, according to research conducted by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts and Experts (GIEI), it manipulated the scene where they found the remains of the 43 missing Ayotzinapa students.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), upon learning these details, reported that those involved have already testified to the Attorney General's Office. However, he refused to provide further information on the matter as the investigations were ongoing, but reiterated his commitment to continue to cooperate with investigations and parents of young people who disappeared in Guerrero on 26 and 27 September of that year.

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