Mayor-Elect of Copala, Mexico, Salvador Villalba Flores, Killed in Highway Shooting

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Written By Angela Angela

 

 

 

 

 

The mayor-elect of a small town near Acapulco, Mexico, was killed on Monday, according to local prosecutors. Salvador Villalba Flores was traveling on a highway when he was shot dead. He was supposed to take office in October in Copala, a town about 80 miles southeast of Acapulco. The authorities have started an investigation into the murder, but they haven’t provided more details.

Villalba was a retired Navy captain who usually had National Guard escorts, but he was alone when he was killed. He was taken off the bus he was traveling on near San Pedro las Playas and shot.

Reports say Villalba decided to run for mayor after his friend, another candidate, was murdered in June 2023.

In Mexico’s recent general election, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected as the first female president. The election also included choosing members of Congress, state governors, and many local officials.

Since Mexico’s campaign season started last September, over two dozen political candidates have been killed, according to Data Civica, a non-governmental organization.

Acapulco, once a popular destination, has seen a decline in tourism due to violence. Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, is one of the states most affected by drug cartel violence. Last year, Guerrero recorded 1,890 murders.

Overall, more than 450,000 people have been killed and thousands have gone missing since the Mexican government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006.

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