Historian John L. Kessell describes Tuñón y Quirós as a "provincial entrepreneur",[1] while David Yetman says he was "widely known as the most corrupt official in the region".
[3] In 1701, Tuñón y Quirós assisted Fuensaldaña in displacing Domingo Jironza Petriz de Cruzate as captain of Fronteras presidio.
[8][10] Due to his absenteeism, citizens of northern Sonora turned to Antonio Becerra Nieto at Janos Presidio for military support.
[11] Tuñón y Quirós also routinely drew salaries for nonexistent soldiers, forging papers and using criminals or vecinos as stand-ins during inspections.
Rivera passed summary judgement on two counts of embezzlement and removed Tuñón y Quirós from his post, assigning Juan Bautista de Anza I in his place.