Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2000
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 El Paso Times
Contact:  P.O.Box 20, El Paso, Texas 79999
Fax: (915) 546-6415
Website:  http://www.borderlandnews.com/
Author: Diana Washington Valdez
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20001018-53240.shtml

EX-CHIHUAHUA GOVERNOR DENIES ALLEGATIONS IN AD

Former Chihuahua Gov. Francisco Barrio Terrazas took out a full-page ad in 
Juarez newspapers Tuesday denying allegations that he took protection money 
from the late drug kingpin Amado Carrillo Fuentes while Barrio was 
governor. "My person, my entire life, has been a book open to scrutiny and 
will continue that way," Barrio's ad stated. "No one is ever going to find 
anything shady in the origin of my personal assets."

Sunday, the El Paso Times published a story quoting a Mexican federal 
attorney general arrest warrant alleging that Barrio had received money 
from the late Carrillo in exchange for protection.

Mexican authorities said that the 2,433-page document is part of an ongoing 
investigation into drug-trafficking, but that Barrio does not face charges 
at this time.

The newspaper faxed copies of the allegations to Barrio's offices in Juarez 
and Mexico City last week. Barrio did not respond and instead issued a 
statement through paid ads in Mexican newspapers.

"It seems ... suspicious that these kinds of articles with accusations 
against me should begin to appear within the context of (Mexico's) 
political transition," Barrio's ad stated.

Barrio, a member of the National Action Party, or PAN, is being considered 
by President-elect Vicente Fox for a new Cabinet-level post as the 
"anti-corruption czar."

Eloy Morales, Barrio's spokesman in Mexico City, could not be reached for 
comment Tuesday.

The allegations against Barrio made headlines in Chihuahua state this week 
and were the subject of commentaries by radio and TV talk-show hosts.

The allegations were made by Tomas Colsa MacGregor, a professional jeweler 
who was kidnapped, tortured and killed July 5, 1997, four months after 
giving his statement to the Mexican attorney general's staff.

Colsa provided details about several Mexican drug traffickers, payoffs to 
federal police, and Carrillo's alleged friendly relations with some governors.

He also gave information about former Mexican drug czar Gen. Jesus 
Gutierrez Rebollo, whom U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey once described as a 
man "of the highest integrity." The Mexican general was later convicted of 
charges that he assisted Carrillo's cartel. 
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