On Wednesday, August 9th, Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio Valencia was assassinated in the midst of a political rally in northern Quito. Authorities arrested six Colombians in connection with the murder, stirring controversy over the involvement of organized crime groups in Ecuadorian politics.
The six Colombians who have been arrested are still under investigation by Ecuadorian authorities. It has been reported that they do not belong to any armed group, and some of them have criminal records.Verónica Sarauz, Villavicencio’s wife, expressed her sorrow in a recent interview with Radio Élite, saying: “That van was not armored and they killed him, simply things are already done, the country is going to hell, here what there should be is a civil war, that men put their pants well tied and women who are braver have to show our bravery, our courage”.
Since the announcement of Villavicencio’s assassination, the Ecuadorian people have been rattled by the random and brazen nature of the attack. On the same day, the murderers released a video on social media declaring their affiliation with the Los Lobos criminal group and claiming responsibility for the crime.
In response to this, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso declared that he has requested assistance from the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in order to investigate the assassination. In a Twitter post, Lasso wrote: “I have requested support from the FBI for the investigation of the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio Valencia. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence accepted our request and in the next hours a delegation will arrive to the country”.
The murder of Villavicencio has sparked outrage over the involvement of criminal organizations in Ecuadorian politics and the nation’s need for increased security measures. President Lasso’s recent call to the FBI has proven that he is taking action to ensure that justice is served. As the investigation into the murder of Villavicencio continues, it is likely that more information about the motives behind his murder will be revealed.
With information from CNN