Before leaving, Rodríguez Padilla sealed audits in Pemex; reserved data for three years

Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director general of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), left the Atlacholoaya prison in Cuernavaca on July 14 at 12:50 p.m., smiling after eight days of preventive detention. His release came following a judicial decision by Judge Adriana Correa, who dismissed charges related to "violence vicaria" due to insufficient evidence. He was released under house arrest with conditions, including monthly check-ins at the Unit for Precautionary Measures, and must comply with these terms to avoid having his conditional freedom revoked. The judge’s ruling, combined with proof of residence in Mexico City, allowed Rodríguez Padilla to replace preventive detention with house arrest, aimed at protecting his wife and minor child who witnessed the violent attack against his mother last March in the Paraíso Country Club neighborhood in Emiliano Zapata municipality. Rodríguez Padilla exited the prison wearing the uniform of an inmate and carrying a plastic bag containing his belongings. He had previously appeared subdued and tearful during the hearing regarding his precautionary measures. However, upon leaving the facility, he regained his confident demeanor, walking toward a waiting vehicle with a composed expression. Journalists followed him along the route, bombarding him with questions, but he did not stop, merely offering a smile of apparent triumph. Before his departure from Pemex, Rodríguez Padilla oversaw the classification of internal audit findings from the previous year as confidential for three years. In an official document titled CT-PM-560-2026, obtained by El Universal, the Pemex Transparency Committee agreed on April 23 to keep the results of audits on affiliated companies, information technology, and communication systems confidential. The document argues that the nature of this information is sensitive and commercial, and its disclosure could reveal strategic business data, potentially giving third parties an economic advantage over Pemex's affiliated entities. The justification includes concerns that revealing incomplete information might create external pressures, distort technical analyses, and undermine the independence needed to make final decisions. Following this decision, numerous pages of the audit reports were blacked out, making their contents inaccessible to the public. On May 14, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Rodríguez Padilla's exit from Pemex, stating she sought to return him to academia. On July 7, footage surfaced showing Rodríguez Padilla striking his wife, leading to his arrest and transfer to the Atlacholoaya prison in Morelos. He was later released on conditional freedom to face accusations of domestic violence. A review titled RE-010/2026, concerning the Internal Control System in Affiliated Companies in 2025, identified 11 execution reports, 24 findings, and corresponding documents recommending corrective actions. However, the review noted that some data contained confidential information that could constitute trade secrets, as its disclosure might provide competitive advantages to affiliated companies. In another audit, VEA001/2025, focused on the provision of desktop computers, laptops, port replicators, and monitors, five findings were identified. Recommendations were made to responsible parties to address these issues, but no action has been taken yet. The document warns that releasing such information could hinder ongoing deliberations, compromise the objectivity of the audit process, and weaken the independence required to finalize decisions. The arguments presented justify keeping the audit findings confidential, citing potential damage to Pemex's operations if the information became public. The concern is that revealing aspects of supply chains, processes, or business models essential to company operations could place them at a disadvantage compared to other market players. These considerations have led to the continued classification of the audit findings, ensuring they remain inaccessible to the public.