Former Pemex director Víctor Rodríguez Padilla was arrested in the Benito Juárez borough of Mexico City by investigative police from Mexico City and Morelos.
The arrest of the former federal official followed a criminal case opened against him for domestic violence against his wife, María Felicia Jiménez Lavie, the prosecutors’ offices of both entities reported in a statement.
The case came to light on June 26, when the victim shared a video on social media recorded by the couple’s home security cameras in Emiliano Zapata, Morelos. The recording, dated March 15 of this year, shows Rodríguez Padilla physically assaulting his wife. He punches, pushes, pulls, and attempts to strangle her. He even hits her in front of their five-year-old son, who runs away upon witnessing the violence. At that time, Rodríguez was still head of Pemex.
According to the National Registry of Detentions, the arrest occurred at 5:32 p.m. yesterday in the Narvarte neighborhood. After his capture, he was taken to a state prosecutor’s office and his status was listed as “in transit.”
In the coming hours, Víctor “N” will face his initial hearing before a judge in Morelos,” the prosecutors added.
Minutes before 11:00 p.m., the Morelos Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the detainee had already been taken into custody.
On June 29, after the video was released, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum warned that her government would not protect any former official and vowed to apply “the full force of the law” in the case.
In radio interviews, Jiménez Lavie recounted that she had been suffering abuse since 2022. She said that on the day of the attack, she confronted her husband. “He didn’t like me telling him uncomfortable truths, because when you hold those positions, you think you’re all-powerful, and that’s when the struggle began,” she explained.
Following the release of the video, the Women’s Secretariat asserted that “these acts, like all those committed against women and girls, must be “Investigated with a gender perspective and without allowing impunity.”
The agency indicated that it established contact with the victim to provide her with guidance, support, and institutional assistance, including protective measures.
Former Pemex director Víctor Rodríguez Padilla was arrested in Mexico City by investigative police from both the capital and Morelos.
The arrest followed a criminal case opened against him for domestic violence against his wife, María Felicia Jiménez Lavie, the prosecutors’ offices of both states reported.
Video of the assault triggered the investigation
The case came to light on June 26, when the victim shared on social media a video recorded by the security cameras of the couple’s home, located in the municipality of Emiliano Zapata.
In the video, dated March 15, Rodríguez Padilla is seen assaulting María Felicia Jiménez. He punches, pushes, pulls, and attempts to strangle her.
He is even seen hitting the woman in front of their five-year-old son, who He fled upon seeing the scene of violence. At that time, Víctor Rodríguez was still head of Pemex.
According to the record available in the National Registry of Detentions (RND), the former official was apprehended at 5:32 p.m. yesterday at 20 Monte Albán Street, in front of a café, in the Narvarte neighborhood. He was taken to a public prosecutor’s office, and at the time of the RND check, his status was “in transit.”
“In the coming hours, Víctor ‘N’ will face his initial hearing before a judge in Morelos, where he will learn the details of the events for which he is presumed responsible,” the prosecutors added. The Morelos Prosecutor’s Office confirmed his arrival.
Before 11:00 p.m., the Morelos Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the former Pemex director had entered its facilities.
On June 29, three days after the video of the attack was released, Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that her government would not protect any former official, regardless of whether they had served in her administration, and declared that “the full force of the law will be applied in this case.”
“It’s not a matter of someone being an acquaintance and getting a different treatment. We are not going to protect anyone,” she maintained.
In radio interviews given on June 26, Jiménez Lavie stated that the attacks had been ongoing since at least 2022.
She shared that on the day of the attack, she confronted her husband, but he reacted violently.
