Armando Ayala Robles, a Morena senator and former mayor of Ensenada, denied this week that federal audit findings prove his administration misused public funds. The ASF, Mexico’s Federal Audit Office, flagged irregularities in how the municipality spent money during his second term as mayor.
Ayala disputed the findings’ implications. “Those observations do not mean those resources were diverted,” he said. “Sometimes documentation needs to be completed or clarified. ” He framed the audit flags as administrative gaps, not evidence of wrongdoing.
The ASF conducts annual reviews of federal funds flowing to states and municipalities across Mexico. When it flags spending, local governments must respond with documentation or return the money. An observation is not a criminal charge, but unresolved findings can lead to formal accountability proceedings.
For property owners and business operators in Ensenada, the case touches on a practical concern. Municipal administration controls permitting, infrastructure spending, and public services. Audit findings against a former administration can signal governance weaknesses that linger beyond any single official’s term.
Ayala served two terms as Ensenada’s mayor before moving to the federal Senate as a Morena legislator. His current position gives him a platform to push back against the findings publicly, which he did this week.
The audit covers spending that occurred during his second mayoral term. The specific amount under review and the nature of the flagged expenditures were not detailed in full in the official response. The current Ensenada city government, not Ayala, now holds responsibility for resolving the ASF observations with the federal agency.
The ASF has not issued a formal ruling. Ayala and municipal officials have the opportunity to submit supporting documentation. If the agency accepts the documentation, the observation closes. If it does not, the case can escalate to Mexico’s Superior Audit Tribunal for further action.
BDN will follow the ASF’s response and any formal findings as they develop.
Source: zetatijuana.com