Culiacan: Survivor of the ambush speaks to the cameras

Original article available at ZETA
Translated by El Wachito

“If only our citizens demonstrated the courage that my man had…” Mexican Marine ambushed in Culiacan speaks *Video*

Last night, journalist Denise Maerker transmitted through Televisa an interview with a Mexican Marine by the name of “Roberto”, a survivor of an attack against a military convoy, which occurred during a Friday morning last September 30 in Culiacan, Sinaloa, were 5 soldiers were killed and 10 more heavily injured.

The interview was conducted last Saturday, in a regional military hospital, were “Roberto” narrated how heavily armed man rescue Julio Oscar Ortiz Vega, alias “el Kevin”, who had previously received medical aid from the Marines, after a firefight in Badiraguato.

The Marine thinks that the sicarios were already waiting for them, because the ambush was conducted in a place were there was no cover and was an obligated entrance into Culiacan. He indicated that the motivation to continue his military service is the ”pain in his heart” after losing 5 of his man in combat.

Crying, ”Roberto” told Maerker that he does not want vengeance. He also complained that a lot of members of the society are aware of illegal activities and they do not report them to the authorities. Lastly, he stated that if Mexican citizens had the courage that his man had, the situation in Mexico would be different.

The Marine Officer narrated that he was in charge of an element of the Mexican Army in the town of Bacacoragua. During one of the patrols they detected a vehicle in direction towards Huixiopa, after being ordered to stop by military forces the vehicle refuse to stop.

Moments later, one of the passengers opened fired against the military elements, which led to a firefight. The Officers in charge ordered the Marines to pursue the aggressors.

While searching for the civilians that attacked the Marines, large assault rifles were found and a male hidden in the mountains was spotted asking for help, because he receive a gunshot to the leg.

Private “Christian”, who later died in the ambush in Culiacan, was the first one to perform first aid procedures to whom today is known as “el Kevin”.

Private Christian, indicated Roberto that the civilian must be evacuated from the zone, because his life was in danger. It was then that military officers ordered 16 soldiers to evacuate the criminal towards Badiraguato.

The elements arrived at the first Center of Health, but it was closed. Then they proceeded to the Integral Hospital of the same town, but the resident doctors only conducted minor medical procedures and advice the Marines to take the wounded criminal to another Hospital with better medical capabilities.

It was at that moment that a Red Cross ambulance offered its transportation services. And it was there that the Badiraguato Police Department requested information on the wounded individual, and even Police elements had verbal contact with “El Kevin”, according to “Roberto”.

The military officer told Denisse Maerker that he never imagine that they were going to be attacked, because he didn’t know that the criminal was of high importance in the criminal world, and that the priority of the military institution was to save his life.

“Roberto” narrated that the convoy had no problems during their transit to Culiacan over Federal road #15, till they made it to the capital of Sinaloa, were the road “gets smaller with only 4 lanes”, till they stop at a traffic light, “by the hotels”.

It was then that two heavy armored vehicles of around 3 and a half tons arrived, according to “Roberto”. One of the vehicles made a “violent turn” and rammed one of the military units, while opening fire against the military elements.

“Roberto” stated, that even though they repealed the aggression, they immediately notice that the vehicles that the aggressors were using were heavily armored. It was then that “Roberto” noticed military vehicles in flames and burning bodies under them.

I couldn’t do anything for them, indicated Roberto. The armed man continue firing. One of the aggressors was using a megaphone to order his sicarios to recover “El Kevin”. It was then that Private Christian was executed.

“Roberto” narrated that he requested help from a cab driver that was driving through the place, but he doesn’t know if he reported anything. He also remembers seeing vehicles driving through the place and slowing down, but they didn’t stop to help.

He also witnessed Police pick up trucks approaching the combat zone, but then retiring from the area.

It was after the firefight was over that Policeman arrive to help them. “Roberto” asked them if he could trust them [local police]. “Roberto” witnessed desolation and chaos. His man lay dead on the ground. He asserted that he never saw an attack of such magnitude in his 20 years of military career.