Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Newsflash

This is the moment the President of Mexico is seen shaking hands with drug lord El Chapo’s mother – breaking his own social distancing rules.

The video was recorded during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s visit to Badiraguto, in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa and was shared on social media.

The president’s officials confirmed that he had said hello to the mother of drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, Maria Consuelo Loera Perez, 62.

In the video, Lopez Obrador can be seen walking up to the car Perez is sitting in and he shakes her hand through the window as he says: “Greetings, don’t get out, don’t get out, I received your letter.”

Local media report that the President was breaking social distancing measures by shaking the woman’s hand.

Reports state the President refused to comment on his short meeting with the drug lord’s mother.

The President asked reporters to wait until a press conference today (Monday) for further information.

Maria Consuelo Loera Perez sent a letter to Lopez Obrador last year asking for her son to be jailed in Mexico instead of the United States and asking to at least be allowed to visit him along with his sisters.

The president said he would give legal support for the second request, but the measure was not put in place.

Lopez Obrador is currently touring the whole country and has already visited Baja California, Sonora and Culiacan.

Mexico is currently on lockdown with hospitality businesses, gyms and many other businesses closed.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Mexico has registered 993 cases confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 20 deaths and 35 people recovered.

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