Almost a year ago, in November 2024, the name Santiago Carlos Martín circulated throughout the Canary Islands. This is not without precedent, as in 2019 he had already made headlines when he was dismissed as the head of Civil Protection in Santa Cruz de Tenerife by the city’s first socialist mayor in this democratic era, Patricia Hernández (PSOE), following allegations of sexual harassment. Though CC defended him vehemently.
Ten months ago, the local government, once again comprising nationalists with the PP as an ally, had no choice but to dismiss him after he was placed in provisional detention on charges of facilitating “clandestine migration” and committing “continuing offences of assault and sexual harassment.” Well, that same Santiago Carlos Martín, who is no longer in provisional detention, has decided to attend official events with a prominent role, has been allowed to speak, photographs with his Civil Protection colleagues and with councillors such as Gladis de León (CC), and acts as if nothing has happened in such a context.
Of course, and according to sources from the Santa Cruz government, he does this as a citizen, dressed casually (in a jacket, tie, etc.), and holds no responsibility in Civil Protection because he has not been reinstated in his position. However, the images circulating on social media have raised eyebrows among many. This occurred a few days ago when he decided to attend the procession of the Virgen de Regla in the Tenerife capital, where he not only posed with the members of this volunteer security body present (about fifteen) but can also be seen in prominent and ceremonial locations during the loading and procession of the statue, as reflected in one of the photos accompanying this article.
When consulted about this situation by Canarias Ahora, sources from the local government played down the incident, acknowledged awareness of the photographs, and stressed that he did not act in any official capacity for Civil Protection, merely as an ordinary citizen. However, that is not the impression received by those who have seen the images and by some present at such a solemn event attended by many devotees of the Virgen.
It is indeed striking, without undermining the presumption of innocence in any way, that many find it rather unseemly that, less than a year after entering provisional detention under such accusations, he should be seen at an official event of this gravity almost as if nothing has occurred, taking on a prominent role and posing with Civil Protection and an important councillor from the mayor’s party, José Manuel Bermúdez.
It is not aesthetically pleasing, at least, until any doubt is cleared up through the ongoing judicial process regarding the reasons for his dismissal last year and his status as an accused individual. It is also worth noting that, as early as 2019, prior to being dismissed by the PSOE and Cs government, supported by Unidos Podemos, some volunteers had already pointed to him as the author of alleged gestures, touches, or comments of a sexual nature, although no criminal proceedings were initiated at that time.
The same councillor who signed his dismissal in November 2024
In November 2024, Martín was dismissed as the head of Civil Protection, a position to which he had been reassigned by CC after the censure against Patricia Hernández, citing his excellent service to the community. He was expelled due to the ongoing investigation and primarily due to his entry into provisional detention without bail. This latter fact left the local government without arguments or room to manoeuvre in the public eye, as they had only temporarily removed him from his duties until his legal situation was clarified.
The individual who signed his dismissal was precisely the councillor he recently posed with at the hermitage of Regla, Gladis de León, on Tuesday, 19th 2024, shortly after the city’s magistrates decided the previous Friday on his provisional detention as a suspect in human trafficking offences for servitude. He was succeeded by José Ramón de León González, who had been in Civil Protection for 15 years at that time.
Interestingly, the government of nationalists and conservatives justified their decision not only due to his imprisonment but also because of “various breaches detected, both of local and regional regulations governing the operation of these Civil Protection bodies.” They also considered the “damage” inflicted on the “image of the capital’s volunteer group, whose members do not deserve such treatment, and to whom the councillor has already conveyed her full support to continue the essential work they perform every day.” In fact, Gladis de León insisted at that time on “disassociating” Santiago Carlos Martín from the “daily and essential activity” that volunteers continue to provide to the citizens of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
It seems that this damage is no longer occurring and that his recent role at the hermitage of Regla can be “linked” once again to those volunteers, as he posed with them and a smiling councillor, alongside taking on a prominent role during the procession in locations not typically reserved for any parishioner or member of the public.
