The Topos Tlatelolco Rescue Brigade (A.C.) issued an official statement clarifying that Héctor “El Chino” Méndez neither belongs to nor represents their organization.
This disavowal follows the circulation on social media of controversial statements made by Méndez during relief efforts in Venezuela, a country struck by two earthquakes—magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5—on Wednesday, June 24.
Founded in the wake of Mexico’s historic 1985 earthquake and composed of Mexican, American, and French rescuers, the Topos Tlatelolco Brigade is currently in Venezuela providing humanitarian aid.
However, other rescue groups also traveled to the disaster zone, including “Topos Azteca,” an organization founded by Héctor Méndez—also known as “El Topo Mayor” or “El Chino.”
The controversy erupted after the release of an interview recorded by the media outlet Sports Venezuela. In it, Méndez verbally lashed out at a local reporter who had allegedly asked him to express gratitude to the president (the video does not clarify whether the reporter was referring to Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, or Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo).
“You have to say this, and thank your president,” Méndez recounted the reporter saying. Faced with this request, the rescuer admitted to reacting by insulting the journalist in front of her boss: “I’m sorry, but I mistreated that dumb bitch. How does she get the idea to tell a fucking old man what he has to say? What the hell is wrong with her?”
Méndez argued to the outlet that, with over 30 years of experience, his presence in Venezuela is strictly about saving lives and recovering bodies to bring peace to families, rather than engaging with or lending himself to political ideologies. Topos Tlatelolco distances itself and calls for avoiding “media grandstanding”
Amid the confusion arising between the two organizations, the Topos Tlatelolco Rescue Brigade clarified that it possesses its own legal identity and official trademark protection registered with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI); consequently, it asked that the actions of unaffiliated individuals not be linked to its operational principles.
The Mexican group expressed regret that such disputes divert attention from the truly urgent aspects of the Venezuelan crisis.
“In an emergency situation like the one Venezuela is currently facing, the focus must remain on the victims, their families, coordination with authorities, and actual search, rescue, and humanitarian assistance efforts,” the organization stated.
