Huatulco Golf Course / Total Play Case Explained

Golf Course in Huatulco. A day after members of the National Guard took control of a golf course in Huatulco, Oaxaca, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador explained that irregularities were found in the management of these lands, with sales at low prices and questionable concessions. He added that measures will be taken regarding the golf and the large land extensions being managed by FONATUR in various tourist areas of the country. 

López Obrador said that it was decided to convert all FONATUR lands into protected natural areas to protect them from speculation and ensure public access. The affected golf course was managed by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who was granted a concession. The concession ended and the Ministry of Finance valued the land at US$25.1 million. 

However, the concessionaires refused to purchase the land and resorted to a legal mechanism to extend their concession, stated López Obrador, leading the government to decree that the golf course would become a protected natural area. The president said that the National Guard had to intervene to protect the territory from those who violated these provisions.

Supreme Court's Resolution on the Salinas Pliego Case. Salinas Pliego's companies have allegedly not paid taxes since the administration of former President Vicente Fox. The companies argue that they are entitled to certain tax benefits. These matters are now in the judiciary's hands and there are large sums under dispute, stated López Obrador.

Antonio Martínez Dagnino, Head, SAT, stated that the agency does not target individuals but rather "accounting operations with tax implications." Since 2014, audits have been conducted on companies in the communications sector, including Total Play, owned by Salinas Pliego. Martínez argued that the company failed to provide adequate information to justify its expenses and reported higher expenses than income since 2011. In 2015, the company was notified of its tax obligations, leading to litigation. The SAT found expenses exceeding income by 1.4 times, said Martínez. 

Grisel Galeano, Federal Attorney for Fiscal Affairs, mentioned that a judicial ruling in 2017 determined the company's tax liability, but the judgment was appealed, reaching the Supreme Court in 2022. However, it was not until 2024 that Judge Luis María Aguilar presented some resolution proposals.

The Court confirmed that the company evaded taxes by reporting losses and, after nine years of litigation, it has yet to pay its taxes, said Galeano. She adds that a similar scheme has also been employed by other companies within the same group. 

Martínez emphasized that Total Play made various accounting errors, and that it is proper for it to correct the over US$89.8 million declared as tax losses. About US$1.7 billion in taxes are still under dispute in various litigations, said Martínez. Amounts determined by the SAT are binding.

Murder of Ayotzinapa Student. López Obrador addressed the murder of a young student from the Ayotzinapa teaching college, stating that initial investigations revealed instances of abuse of authority. Regarding the matter, the federal government confirmed that two people had been detained linked to the case, with one more still being sought.

Governor of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado, opted to remove the Minister of Security and the Minister of Government from their positions, actions supported by López Obrador.