Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez, the independent mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, has emerged as one of Mexico’s most outspoken local leaders in the fight against organized crime. Elected in June 2024 with over 66% of the vote, Manzo campaigned on a platform of transparency, anti-corruption, and uncompromising security reform. Since taking office in September 2024, he has taken bold steps to confront powerful criminal groups operating in the region, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Los Viagras, and Cárteles Unidos.
Manzo’s approach has been direct and controversial. He has publicly instructed municipal police to “neutralize armed criminals who resist arrest or threaten civilians,” a stance that has drawn both praise and criticism. President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that such rhetoric could undermine the rule of law, while others have hailed Manzo as a fearless defender of public safety. His aggressive tactics and refusal to negotiate with criminal groups have earned him the nickname “El Bukele Mexicano,” referencing El Salvador’s tough-on-crime president Nayib Bukele.
In June 2025, Manzo shared a video allegedly showing cartel members undergoing paramilitary-style training in a clandestine camp near the Purépecha Plateau. The footage, recovered from a cellphone left at a raided site, depicted armed men practicing tactical movements. Manzo claimed the camp involved Colombian and Venezuelan nationals and called for urgent federal intervention.
He has publicly demanded support from Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s federal security chief, urging coordinated efforts to dismantle cartel operations in Michoacán. Despite threats against his family, including his son, Manzo remains defiant, stating in a viral video, “Here I am, waiting for you.” His tenure reflects the growing tension between citizen demands for security and the legal frameworks governing the use of force in Mexico.
Source: Milenio
