The community of Guerrero has woken up to news that no one wanted to hear after days of anguish. Manuel Alejandro Moreno SernaAlex Serna, whom we all knew as Alex Serna, has been found dead after going missing on June 20. The activist and freelance journalist, who had become an uncomfortable voice for many on the Costa Grande, could not escape the violence plaguing the region.
The confirmation came from the Human Rights Commission of the State of GuerreroThis has ended all hopes of finding him safe and sound. Serna, 39, was wholeheartedly dedicated to exposing environmental damage and corruption in real estate projects. His disappearance occurred just after he posted a video denouncing irregularities at a local company, raising serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his tragic end.
Gruesome details about the discovery of the body
Moreno Serna's body was found in the neighboring municipality of Petatlán, specifically near the highway that connects Acapulco and Zihuatanejo. According to reports from the prosecutor's office, the body was inside a blue plastic drum Abandoned between the towns of Coyuquilla Norte and Arroyo Seco. It is an extremely cruel act that reflects the insecurity faced by those who dare to speak out in certain areas of Mexico.
Although the discovery occurred just two days after her disappearance, the body remained in the Forensic Medical Service No one knew who the body was. It wasn't until family members came to officially identify the remains that a name could be given. Initial forensic reports indicate that the body showed clear signs of torture and was in an advanced state of decomposition when it was recovered.
Previous threats and the mango company
On the same day he disappeared, Alex had shared a video on his social media where he pointed directly to a mango dehydration company in La Saladita. According to his investigations, the plant was operating without the necessary environmental permits and was using water beyond its authorized limits. Alex didn't mince words when naming names, even identifying the company's owner, a foreign businessman named Frank Thomas.
This courage had taken its toll months earlier, as the journalist had publicly denounced the reception of intimidating messages on FacebookIn March, he shared screenshots of a profile warning him that they had his location and that he should stop investigating—a clear indication that he was touching a nerve. Despite these warnings, Alex Serna decided to continue his reporting on the destruction of wetlands and mangroves in the Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca area.
Social pressure to ensure that crime does not go unpunished
The journalist's death has stirred up a real storm among human rights organizations and the journalistic community. Groups such as Article 19 has condemned He vehemently condemned the murder, demanding that the primary line of investigation focus on Serna's work defending the natural environment. This was hardly surprising, as Serna was also highly critical of the Zihuatanejo local government, which he accused of prioritizing private business interests over the common good of the residents.
Several events have been scheduled for this Saturday. demonstrations in front of the City Hall With the aim of demanding justice and breaking the silence in the region, citizens are organizing to express their outrage at a crime intended to intimidate those who selflessly defend the land. It is crucial that the authorities act swiftly to prevent these kinds of attacks against press freedom and activism from becoming the norm.
The tragic end of Manuel Alejandro Moreno Serna leaves a huge void in Guerrero's activism and highlights the extreme danger they face Environmental defenders. After being found in inhumane conditions following his denunciation of illegal dumping and lack of industrial permits, his case has become a symbol of the fight against corporate impunity. Now, the ball is in the court of the prosecution, which must demonstrate that the murder of a man for his beliefs and denunciations does not go unpunished in this part of the world.