Mexico: Prominent Vigilante Who Battled Cartels, Hipolito Mora, Killed in an Ambush

A vigilante leader named Hipolito Mora, who fought drug cartels that blighted Michoacan, Mexico, has died after an ambush in which three of his followers also died. He and his group put up armed resistance against these Mexican drug cartels until the bitter end.

According to the Associated Press, the Mexico vigilante leader has now been buried, along with two of his followers who were also killed in that same ambush. However, his death might also mean that any hope of reviving armed civilian resistance against the Mexican drug cartels also probably died with them.

Armed vigilante movements have had success in Mexico in combatting these drug cartels, and there were talks of reviving the 2013-2014 armed farmers' movement by Mora's relatives. That movement kicked out one cartel in Michoacan but others soon replaced it.

While family and friends of the slain vigilante leader were angry at his demise, many were also afraid of cartel retaliation. However, during his wake, many were also unhappy with the Mexican government. One of them, Rev. Gregorio Lopez, who was not present during the funeral, slammed President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his policies of not confronting the cartels, saying that he only allowed them to grow in power.

"The 'hugs not bullets' policy has been the perfect fertilizer for growing drug cartels across the country," the priest told the Associated Press in an interview.

His body was finally laid to rest at a local cemetery in La Ruana, Michoacan. There, they played the "corrido" ballad "The General" by Joan Sebastian, whose lyrics go, "I have been a general a long time, and even though I am wounded, I never forget about my troops, and they haven't buried me yet." His funeral was attended by armed state police.

How Mexico Vigilante Hipolito Mora Was Killed

The attack that killed Mora and his three bodyguards was described as an "overwhelming, deadly, multipoint ambush." It happened in his hometown of La Ruana, where he led his self-defense movement against the various drug cartels in the state.

According to the Michoacan state prosecutors' office, unidentified gunmen cut off Mora's armored SUV, as well as the pickup truck that his bodyguards were riding. They then opened fire upon the two vehicles before setting both of them on fire.

The Guardian reported that video footage of the burning wrecks of the two vehicles was posted on social media.

Who Is Mexico Vigilante Hipolito Mora?

Hipolito Mora rose to prominence in 2013. A farmer and community leader in La Ruana, he organized local armed militias to defend their communities against the various drug cartels plaguing the state, according to El Pais.

His movement was initially successful as he and his band of vigilantes, made up mostly of farmers and ranchers, successfully resisted and kicked out the Knights Templar cartel. However, it only ended up being infiltrated by other cartels.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mexican Vigilantes Stand Up Against Crime - VICE