Mexican regional music artist Panter Bélico sang about some of Mexico's most notorious drug lords during an Independence Day celebration financed and organized by the municipal government of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.
On September 15, shortly after Mayor Fabiola Ricci led the traditional Grito de Independencia ceremony, the artist performed corridos connected to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho'; Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán; and Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada.
The concert took place in the city center, in front of the Museo de San Cristóbal, as part of the official Independence Day program. Photographs and videos of the performance were subsequently shared through the municipal government's official social media accounts.
The event reopened the debate over using public funds to hire narcocorrido performers, particularly in Chiapas, a state affected by a territorial conflict between cells associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Unlike other Mexican states that have adopted decrees, fines or restrictions targeting music that glorifies organized crime, Chiapas has no comparable prohibition. There was therefore no legal requirement for Panter Bélico to change his repertoire.
Who is Panter Bélico?
Panter Bélico is the stage name of Arturo González López, a singer and accordionist born in the United States in 2002 to a family from Sinaloa. He grew up in Culiacán, where he taught himself to play the accordion.
His nickname dates back to his years at CBTIS 224, a technical high school in Culiacán. According to accounts of his early life, classmates began calling him Panter because he regularly dressed in black and carried his accordion everywhere.
Before entering the music industry professionally, he played accordion at seafood restaurants in Culiacán in exchange for tips. In 2020, he joined Grupo Arriesgado, which rose to prominence during the pandemic with songs including 'Enloquecido,' 'El Fugitivo' and 'Los Mitotes.'
He has cited Chalino Sánchez, Los Canelos de Durango and Los Alegres del Barranco among his musical influences, all figures closely associated with the northern Mexican corrido tradition.
During his time with Grupo Arriesgado, he also collaborated with artists and groups including Grupo Firme, Codiciado and Los Titanes de Durango.
González's career changed dramatically in February 2023, when Grupo Arriesgado was scheduled to perform at Estadio Chevron in Tijuana. One day before the concert, a gunshot was fired during an autograph-signing event at Plaza Paseo 2000, near an area where fans of the group had gathered. The event was suspended.
Hours later, a narcomanta, or cartel banner, signed with the initials CJNG appeared with a direct threat against Panter Bélico. It warned that he was not allowed to perform in Baja California and told him: "Your hours in Tijuana are numbered."
Authorities did not publicly confirm who was responsible for producing the banner, but the concert was canceled. The other members of Grupo Arriesgado returned to Sinaloa, while González initially remained in Tijuana and reportedly intended to take the stage.
The episode created a rift within the group. In April 2023, the musician confirmed his departure and launched a solo career as Panter Bélico. He has since released projects including Punto y Aparte, De Buena Cepa, El Mexicano, Corazón Errante and Travesía.
It was not his last controversy with local authorities. In September 2023, the Chihuahua municipal government fined Panter Bélico and Grupo Arriesgado for performing songs officials considered to be promoting or glorifying criminal activity during a show at the Palenque de Santa Rita.
The corridos he performed in Chiapas
During the Independence Day celebration in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Panter Bélico performed at least four songs associated with prominent figures in Mexico's drug trade.
'El primero' describes the CJNG's command structure and mentions Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. 'El dueño del palenque' also contains references to 'El Mencho.'
'La 701' recounts elements of 'El Chapo' Guzmán's story following his extradition and refers to his sons, as well as Rafael Caro Quintero. 'Ismael,' meanwhile, is dedicated to 'El Mayo' Zambada.
Videos posted on social media showed members of the crowd singing along. Clips from the performance circulated widely on TikTok and other platforms after the event.
The local context made the musical selection particularly sensitive. Chiapas has experienced killings, disappearances, roadblocks and forced displacement linked to the competition between criminal organizations seeking control of strategic routes near Mexico's border with Guatemala.
Municipal Civil Protection authorities said the Independence Day festivities ended without serious incidents and that preventive security operations had been deployed. However, as of September 18, the San Cristóbal de Las Casas government had not publicly explained its decision to hire the singer or addressed the content of the songs performed on its official stage.
The concert left local authorities facing a broader question: Even if Panter Bélico's repertoire was not prohibited by law, should an official Independence Day celebration provide a platform for songs dedicated to leaders of the same criminal organizations fighting for territory in Chiapas?
