Malaga province residents continue to argue about Julio Iglesias and his ties to the Sierra de Las Nieves area as rumours grow about his possible summer return to the Costa del Sol, albeit under a cloud of controversy.

Previous council initiative stalls completely

Ojen local council have confirmed to the newspaper La Razón that no active talks exist with the singer over any museum dedicated to his extensive career. The town hall has stressed the idea belonged to an earlier administration and halted years ago. Juan Merino, the current mayor, stated clearly that negotiations never resumed after the initial proposal collapsed.

Artist twice declines local tributes

Former mayor José Antonio Gómez handled direct discussions with Iglesias around 2020. Local people hoped to honour the star with a dedicated space displaying fan-collected memorabilia. Gómez met the performer at his family estate and presented a full contract outlining project details. Iglesias responded that the timing felt wrong and rejected any cultural venture or media attention around it.

The refusal followed an earlier decline in 2017 when local politicians offered to name him an adoptive son of Ojen. Both gestures received polite but firm rejections from the artist, mostly due to timing and almost certainly related to privacy concerns.

The intended location sits unused

Planners earmarked council cultural buildings close to the main square for the proposed museum. Those same facilities now remain idle, originally destined for the local Casa de la Cultura.

Warm lasting memories from the 2002 town crier role

Everyone in Ojen holds deep affection for Julio Iglesias, who owns the Cuatro Lunas mansion there. He created lasting impressions during the San Dionisio Fair when he agreed to serve as the traditional pregonero who officially opens local ferias. Crowds gathered in delight as the global icon delivered an opening speech from the stage.

Iglesias appeared in excellent spirits. His wife Miranda stayed away due to illness, yet he conveyed her fondness for the village. He recalled how Ojen marked her first sight of Malaga upon arrival and shared her warm greetings to all the residents.

Future uncertain despite strong local connection

Iglesias maintains one of his Spanish homes in this small community, where he left clear traces in social and cultural life. While the museum project stays on semi-permanent hold, fond recollections from his public appearances keep his link to Ojen alive among locals.

Spanish Bon Jovi tribute act Bad name are coming to Estepona on Saturday, May 16, and rock fans among us should not miss it. The Seville-based group with over 15 years of live performance experience, will rock the stage at Louie Louie in Estepona’s Marina. 

Who are Bad Name?

Founded in 2007, Bad Name are an extremely successful Seville-based tribute to Bon Jovi, whose live shows cover the New Jersey band’s career from their earliest recordings right through to their most recent work. The talented current members are Jaime Lopez on vocals, Alberto Sanchez-Ros on bass, Justo Rodriguez on drums, Diego Martinez on guitar, and Toni Fernandez on guitar.

The band takes its name from classic belter You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi’s huge 1986 single, which became the group’s first ever number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a bold choice of name, and a fitting one. Bad Name have spent nearly two decades proving they can do justice to one of rock’s most beloved catalogues. Audience rave reviews consistently hype up the band, with one fan calling them the best Bon Jovi tribute they had ever attended. High praise for the 5 members. 

Ticket prices and venue details

Bad Name are performing at Louie Louie Live, Avenida Luis Braille 1, known as Estepona’s home of rock music. Advance tickets are priced at €12 (plus booking fees) and are available via Entradium. On the door, tickets will cost €15, so booking ahead is advised. It’s one for the night owls as doors open at 10pm, with the show kicking off at 11pm. For more information visit the Louie Louie website or Bad Name social media.

A night not to miss

Enjoy the rush of screaming “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “It’s My Life”. A Bad Name show is as close to the real thing as it gets. Grab your tickets early.

Two Guardia Civil officers have died and two others have been injured after two patrol vessels collided during a maritime operation off the coast of Huelva involving a ‘narcolancha’ (high-speed drug trafficking boat). The incident took place during an active pursuit at sea as officers from the Guardia Civil Maritime Service attempted to intercept the high-speed vessel, which is used by drug trafficking networks to transport illegal cargo along Spain’s southern coastline.

The two officers who died have been identified in Spanish reports as experienced members of the force with long careers in maritime operations. They were aged 55 and 56.

Officers identified and casualties confirmed

Germán P.G., from Teruel, had served in the Guardia Civil for more than three decades, much of it within maritime units in southern Spain. Jerónimo J.M., from Málaga, also had extensive service in coastal operations and was based in Huelva. Two further officers were injured in the collision. One remains in a serious condition, while the second sustained less severe injuries. Emergency teams were deployed immediately after the incident to recover personnel from the water.

The Guardia Civil confirmed that the operation involved a narcolancha operating off the Huelva coastline. These vessels are commonly used by criminal networks transporting drugs from North Africa into Spain and are known for their speed and ability to evade interception.

Maritime operations against drug trafficking

The Guardia Civil Maritime Service carries out regular patrols in waters around Andalusia to intercept vessels linked to drug trafficking networks. Narcolanchas are typically faster than patrol boats and are often used in coordinated smuggling routes through the Strait of Gibraltar and nearby coastal areas.

Spanish authorities have increased maritime surveillance in recent years due to the continued use of these vessels by organised criminal groups.

Similar fatal incident in Barbate

The deaths in Huelva come just over two years after a similar incident in Barbate, Cádiz, where two Guardia Civil officers were killed during an anti-drug operation. In that case, officers were struck by a high-speed vessel while attempting to intercept traffickers inside a harbour area. The collision resulted in two fatalities and led to renewed scrutiny of safety conditions for maritime units operating in southern Spain.

That incident prompted calls from officers’ associations and police unions for improved equipment and greater protection for personnel involved in anti-narcotics operations at sea.

Concerns over working conditions

Following the latest deaths, Guardia Civil representatives have again raised concerns about the risks faced by officers involved in maritime anti-drug operations. Units operating in coastal waters often engage fast-moving vessels in close-range pursuits, where reaction times are limited and visibility can be affected by sea conditions.

Some officers’ groups have argued that resources and equipment have not kept pace with the increasing scale and organisation of drug trafficking networks operating along Spain’s southern coast. The Guardia Civil has not made specific comments on these claims but has previously acknowledged the operational challenges posed by high-speed smuggling vessels.

Political and official response

Spain’s Interior Ministry has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers and confirmed that an investigation has been opened into the circumstances of the collision.

Regional authorities in Andalucía have also paid tribute to the officers involved and offered support to the injured personnel and their families. Emergency support services have been activated for those affected.

Investigation underway

An internal investigation is now being carried out by the Guardia Civil, alongside maritime specialists, to determine the sequence of events leading to the collision. Early assessments indicate that the vessels were operating at speed during the pursuit of the narcolancha when the impact occurred.

Further technical analysis of the boats and operational conditions is expected in the coming weeks. The Guardia Civil has confirmed the deaths of two officers in active service and continues to provide