Bishop Emeritus of Chilpancingo Salvador Rangel Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

Mexico’s Bishop Emeritus of Chilpancingo Salvador Rangel was admitted to a hospital in Cuernavaca, Morelos on the evening of Monday, April 29, two days after he was kidnapped from his home in Jiutepec, Morelos, on Saturday, April 27.

Rangel, who is one of the key figures behind the Mexican church’s proposed peace deal with the nation’s organized crime groups, was admitted to the Cuernavaca hospital after being found in an undisclosed hotel in the area.

According to sources close to the matter, the 78-year-old came in with bruises on his body, babbling and “looked high.”

Morelos Prosecutor Uriel Carmona claimed Rangel’s toxicology report tested positive for drugs and was seemingly beaten during his abduction, though noted the bishop is now in stable condition.

“He is stable with the residual effects of what he may have ingested,” reported Carmona. “The anti-doping test came back positive for benzodiazepine and is suggesting cocaine.” 

Carmona went on to allege that the bishop was kidnapped to have his bank accounts drained, rather than in regards to his proposed truce with organized crime groups.

For his part, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) celebrated the safe return of Rangel during his daily morning press conference on Tuesday, April 30. 

“Fortunately the bishop was found, the truth is that it was very satisfactory when it was discovered that he was in a hospital,” said AMLO. 

“The most important thing is that he is fine and has already been discharged, from the hospital, because these are very unfortunate issues that happen to anyone, but in this case we are talking about a religious leader,” added the federal executive.

Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) Rosa Icela Rodríguez added that the National Anti-Kidnapping Coordination would aid in the investigation into Rangel’s abduction.