Vigilante Leader Manuel Mireles Leaves Jail Saying, ’The Struggle Continues’ CNNExpansion
go to original May 13, 2017

The doctor by profession told reporters he's not a man of hate (AFP/Enrique Castro)

The ex-leader of the self-defense groups in Michoacán, José Manuel Mireles, left the Tepic prison, in Nayarit, this Friday morning at 7:00 am, after being held for three years.

"Thank you for the moral support you have provided us in these three years, and you always followed our health situation," he told reporters waiting for him.

Mireles said that he has many "pending issues" and that the "struggle must continue".

Mireles received news of his release on bail on Thursday afternoon, through a friend who told him that his family had already paid the bail. In the evening, he was informed of the agreement reached by the judge and this Friday he was officially released, he explained in an interview with Radio Fórmula.

The exlíder said that his priority for the moment is to recover from the health problems that afflict him and obtain an adequate diagnosis.

"I had two heart attacks, I continue with the problems of diabetes and my spine. I have that inside me; outside, I have more serious things," he said.

Regarding one of the conditions of his release on bail, a prohibition to approach the people involved with his case [evidently Alfredo Castillo, the special federal commissioner for security in Michoacán, at the time of his arrest], the Michoacan resident declared that he has no problem with it, because he does not hold grudges.

"I have never had a grudge; I am not a person of hate, indeed, I cannot afford to have rage because of my health, so it won't be an inconvenience," he said.

Better Days: Dr Jose Manuel Mireles in December 2013 (Omar Torres/AFP/Getty Images)

The former leader was arrested on June 27, 2014 in the municipality of Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, with 82 other members of the self-defense groups (civilians who rose up in arms to fight the Knights Templar cartel). At the time, Mireles intended to organize the inhabitants of a community to confront the criminals.

He will face the ongoing judicial process under charges of possession of and carrying arms for the exclusive use of the army. His lawyer emphasized that he was going to continue to wage the legal battle to get his client acquitted of the charges against him.

See the original at Mexico Voices | Español

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