Edomex: Scholarship scandal spills over into Delfina Gómez's administration; accusations of multimillion-dollar fraud

A serious allegation of alleged corruption has emerged in the State of Mexico, involving the administration of Governor Delfina Gómez. Allegations of multimillion-dollar fraud involving the budget of the "Travel Abroad Scholarships for Well-being" program are being raised. Officials from the Ministry of Education are allegedly involved in the misappropriation of funds and the purchase of overpriced airline tickets.

The administration of the governor of the State of Mexico, Delfina Gómez Álvarez, is in the eye of the storm after the revelation of an alleged fraud scheme that affected the "Travel Abroad Scholarships for Well-being" program. According to anonymous complaints, accompanied by alleged copies of contracts, a team of the governor's collaborators allegedly misappropriated the budget intended to send students from the State of Mexico to study abroad.

This scandal, if confirmed, would represent a severe blow to the credibility of a government that came to power promising change and combating corruption. The political implications could be significant for Morena in the country's most populous state, eroding public trust.

Available information indicates that in March 2024, Miguel Ángel Hernández Espejel, head of the Secretariat of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (SECTI) of the State of Mexico, authorized a budget of 40 million pesos. This amount was intended to finance travel for 390 students from public teacher training colleges, the National Pedagogical University (UPN), and the Tenería Rural Teacher Training College to countries such as Canada and various European nations.

The reported irregularities include:

* Purchase of Flights without Bidding: The plane tickets were allegedly purchased through a company called Aeromexicana Metepec, without a transparent public bidding process.

* Exorbitant Overcharges: The company was allegedly paid up to 98,000 pesos for tickets whose actual cost was around 19,000 pesos, inflating the price up to three times its value.

* Student Deception: Students were allegedly forced to pose for official photographs with checks and signed documents confirming altered ticket prices. For example, young people traveling to Canada were allegedly forced to pay 33,000 pesos for a flight, generating an alleged illicit profit of 12.8 million pesos from this transaction alone.

The complaint directly implicates senior SECTI officials who allegedly endorsed and signed the documents for these irregular operations. Among them are:

* Ricardo López Avendaño, Undersecretary of Administration and Finance.

* Guillermo Calderón Vega, Coordinator of Legal Affairs and Gender Equality at SECTI.

* Carlos Gilberto Chávez Covarrubias, private secretary to the Minister of Education.

"It is unacceptable that resources intended for the education of our youth can be diverted. We demand a thorough investigation and that the investigation be followed through to the final results." – Statement from a student or opposition representative.

Given the seriousness of these accusations, there has been a call for Governor Delfina Gómez to address the actions of her collaborators and, crucially, for the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Combating Corruption of the State of Mexico (FECC) to launch a formal investigation to determine responsibility and, where appropriate, punish the perpetrators.

The news, which was initially welcomed for the opportunity it represented for the students, is now clouded by the shadow of corruption, generating outrage and distrust.

On another note, regarding mobility in the state, the public is reminded that this Sunday, May 25, the Hoy No Circula program does not apply in the State of Mexico or Mexico City, allowing the free circulation of all vehicles.

The alleged fraud involving scholarships abroad in the State of Mexico is a matter of the utmost seriousness that requires a clear and forceful response from the authorities. Transparency in the management of public resources and accountability are fundamental pillars of any democratic government. The people of the State of Mexico hope that this case will be fully clarified and that it will be guaranteed that all educational support will reach those most in need.

What do you think about this alleged case of corruption in the State of Mexico? Do you believe a transparent investigation will be conducted? Participate!

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