San Juan de la Rambla Mayor Probed Over Unauthorized Airsoft Site Use

The mayor of San Juan de la Rambla, Juan Ramos, is under investigation for alleged mismanagement of public assets. The Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has filed a complaint, meaning he will have to give a statement as a suspect in the case.

According to the investigation documents seen by this newspaper, the mayor is accused of giving the keys to the Mirador del Mazapé facilities to the Airsoft El Atlántico Association on July 22, 2024. The association, led by Marcelo García González, had applied to use the facilities for airsoft (a combat simulation game using plastic pellets) on June 12, 2025.

The association reportedly used the facilities at least once, on October 12, 2025. Local police officers from San Juan de la Rambla found several people playing airsoft there after a neighbor reported the activity.

However, the complaint states that there is no official record or paperwork for granting permission to use the facilities. In fact, on October 28 of last year, the City Council's technical architect, acting secretary, and general administration technician formally asked the mayor to immediately evict the group and explain who was responsible for the improper use of the facilities and the surrounding area. These officials also said they had no idea how permission was given, as no official process was followed.

The facilities themselves appear to have been abandoned and vandalized since at least 2022, with most valuable items stolen. But the Prosecutor's Office stresses that this doesn't mean they are abandoned property (or res nullius in legal terms); they remain owned by the municipality.

The Prosecutor's Office highlights concerns about the environmental impact. They explain that airsoft uses small plastic pellets, and it's crucial to investigate what these pellets are made of, where they land, if they are collected, how long they take to break down, and their potential effect on the natural environment. While it's unclear if these specific pellets are plastic, most plastics take decades or even hundreds of years to decompose and can severely harm nature, for example, by creating microplastics.

The Prosecutor's Office concludes that the situation is serious. They argue that simply handing over keys, even if recorded, is not proper authorization. No official process was followed to assess whether the airsoft activity could harm the property or the surrounding natural environment, which is a protected area. Although not strictly required by Law 33/2003 on Public Administration Heritage, such a process should include reports on potential impacts. Since the property belongs to the municipality, the City Council is responsible for ensuring no authorized use causes damage.

Speaking in the mayor's absence, Jonay Méndez, spokesperson for the ruling party, defended the mayor's actions. He claimed that "the document was created with the handover of keys" for an activity that "does not damage any heritage," stating that airsoft pellets are biodegradable and decompose naturally. Méndez added that these were "two specific events" requested by the Airsoft El Atlántico Association, not continuous use or a formal concession. He insisted that "the file was processed, the keys were given, and use was permitted as it would be for any other association wanting to hold a specific event."

However, the Airsoft El Atlántico Association's own website lists Mirador de Mazapé as its designated field. The site describes it as "a privileged natural environment" where they "organize regular games" and offer "a unique setting for the practice of this sport," which seems to contradict the claim of only two specific events.