The Los Cabos municipal government removed Rafael Álvarez Munguía as director of ZOFEMAT, the Federal Maritime Land Zone agency, on Friday after a state legislator accused him of physical assault. Héctor Hugo Agúndez has been named as the new ZOFEMAT director.
State legislator Omar Torres Orozco of the Labor Party filed a criminal complaint alleging that Álvarez Munguía attacked him at the Labor Party offices five days before the firing. According to Torres, Álvarez Munguía continued the assault even as bystanders tried to intervene.
What ZOFEMAT Does and Why It Matters
ZOFEMAT (Zona Federal Marítimo Terrestre) manages the 20-meter strip of land above the high-tide line along Mexico’s coastline. The agency controls beach access, issues coastal construction permits, and grants concessions to beachfront businesses and property owners. In Los Cabos, where tourism and real estate development dominate the economy, the agency plays a central role in disputes over who can build, operate, or restrict access along the shore.
For expats and property owners with homes near the coast in San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, any change at the top of ZOFEMAT can affect permit timelines and enforcement of beach access rules. The agency’s authority extends to every beach in the municipality, from popular tourist stretches like Playa El Médano to more remote swimming beaches along the Tourist Corridor.
Political Fallout in the State Legislature
The incident prompted a formal condemnation from the Baja California Sur state legislature. The public response from lawmakers added political pressure that likely accelerated the decision to remove Álvarez Munguía from his post. Torres Orozco’s criminal complaint remains active, meaning legal proceedings could follow the administrative firing.
Álvarez Munguía had served as ZOFEMAT director overseeing beach management operations across Los Cabos, including monitoring of high-traffic beaches such as Playa Santa María and Playa Chileno during peak holiday periods. His replacement, Héctor Hugo Agúndez, takes over an agency responsible for one of the most heavily developed coastlines in all of Baja California Sur.
The municipal government has not released further details about the circumstances of the altercation or whether Álvarez Munguía faces additional administrative sanctions beyond his removal. This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.