World

Ecuador: Presidential Candidate Fernando Villavicencio Shot Dead During Rally Event

A presidential candidate from Ecuador known for speaking out against corruption was shot dead on Wednesday during a political gathering in the South Ameriacan country.

President Guillermo Lasso acknowledged Fernando Villavicencio’s assassination and suggested organized crime was responsible, less than two weeks before the August 20 presidential election.

“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso said in a statement. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”

Prior to the shooting, Villavicencio claimed he had received numerous death threats, including from officials of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, an international criminal gang operating in Ecuador.

Villavicencio was one of eight candidates, but he wasn’t a frontrunner. The 59-year-old politician was a candidate of the Build Ecuador Movement. According to Ecuador’s attorney general’s office, a suspect in Villavicencio’s assassination died of injuries after being captured.

Ecuador, a typically peaceful country, has seen an increase in violence in the last year as drug traffickers come to the South American country, resulting in a troubling increase in drug trafficking, violent deaths, and child trafficking by gangs.

Social media videos show the candidate leaving the event accompanied by security. The footage then shows Villavicencio getting into a white pickup truck, followed by gunfire and activity around the vehicle. Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s campaign adviser, confirmed the series of events to The Associated Press.

According to Zuquilanda, the candidate got at least three death threats before the actual shooting, which he reported to authorities, resulting in one arrest. He urged international authorities to intervene in the crisis, blaming it on escalating violence and drug trafficking.

“The Ecuadorian people are crying, and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he declared. “Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”

Other contenders requested action in response to the assassination, with presidential frontrunner Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution party saying, “When they touch one of us, they touch all of us.”

Also Read: Delhi Man ‘Buys’ Wife In Rs70,000, Kills And Dumps Woman’s Body In Forest, Case Filed

Shivanshi Srivastava

Recent Posts

Uttar Pradesh Government Approves Major Connectivity Projects During Maha Kumbh

CM Yogi Adityanath's government has approved key connectivity projects to boost Uttar Pradesh's infrastructure for…

4 hours ago

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Speaks To CM Fadnavis On Jalgaon Train Tragedy

Several passengers were reportedly killed, and 30-40 others injured when passengers of the Pushpak Express,…

4 hours ago

Prayagraj Transforms Into Spiritual Hub With Iconic Temple Replicas During Maha Kumbh

Under CM Yogi, Prayagraj has become a city of temples, offering pilgrims replicas of India's…

4 hours ago

Yogi Government Approves Transformative Projects During Maha Kumbh Cabinet Meeting

During Maha Kumbh, CM Yogi Adityanath's Cabinet approved transformative projects for Uttar Pradesh's development.

5 hours ago

WEF Davos Summit: Maha Govt Signs MoU With RIL For Rs 3.05 Lakh Cr Investment

The Maharashtra government and Reliance Industries signed a monumental MoU worth ₹3.05 lakh crore at…

5 hours ago

Yogi Cabinet Approves Key Proposals To Boost Development & Employment In Uttar Pradesh

In a Cabinet meeting chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath, the UP govt approved 10 major…

5 hours ago