Fernando Villavicencio, the Ecuadorian presidential candidate assassinated nine days before the extraordinary elections of 2023 in Ecuador, remains a cause for protest and demands for justice from his family, friends, and supporters. In a new sit-in held in front of the Pichincha Prosecutor's Office, it was once again demanded that the authorities continue investigating until they find the perpetrator or intellectual authors of the crime.
So far, five people have been convicted as material authors of Villavicencio's murder, including Carlos Angulo, considered an indirect author for planning the crime from prison. Eight other implicated individuals died before the trial, including the Colombian hitmen who participated in the attack. Despite these convictions, it has not yet been determined who ordered the candidate's life to be taken on August 9, 2023.
Fernando Villavicencio, at 59 years old at the time of his assassination, was running for the presidency for the first time after a distinguished journalistic career known for his corruption allegations. His daughters, Tamia and Amanda Villavicencio, criticized the lack of coordination among the institutions responsible for the investigation and the absence of concrete answers about the case.
During a meeting with the prosecutor in charge of the case, Ana Hidalgo, it became evident that the Public Ministry does not have the necessary technology to extract information from mobile phones linked to Los Lobos, a criminal gang related to the crime. Amanda Villavicencio described this situation as outrageous and almost ridiculous, emphasizing the need for greater coordination in the investigations.
Additionally, a line of investigation was mentioned pointing to the Metastasis case, a corruption scheme related to the drug trafficker Leandro 'El Patrón' Norero. Amanda denounced that impunity in Ecuador has allowed robbery and murder to become a "good business," urging society to raise its voice against this scourge. The question of who ordered Villavicencio's murder remains a lingering concern in the country.
