QUITO, Ecuador — An Ecuadorian presidential candidate identified for talking up in opposition to corruption was shot and killed Wednesday at a political rally within the capital amid a wave of startling violence within the South American nation
President Guillermo Lasso confirmed the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio and advised organized crime was behind his slaying. Villavicencio was one in every of eight candidates within the Aug. 20 presidential vote, although not the frontrunner. The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Construct Ecuador Motion.
“I guarantee you that this crime won’t go unpunished,” Lasso mentioned in an announcement. “Organized crime has gone too far, however they may really feel the total weight of the regulation.”
Ecuador’s lawyer basic’s workplace mentioned a suspect within the assassination of Villavicencio died of wounds after being arrested by authorities.
Violence in Ecuador, a traditionally calm nation, has surged up to now 12 months as drug traffickers have flocked to the South American nation, leading to a regarding uptick in drug trafficking, violent killings and youngster recruitment by gangs.
Movies on social media seem to indicate the candidate strolling out of the occasion surrounded by guards. The video then reveals Villavicencio coming into a white truck adopted by gunfire, info that was confirmed to the Related Press by Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s marketing campaign adviser.
Zuquilanda mentioned the candidate had obtained demise threats earlier than the capturing, which he had reported to authorities and resulted in a single detention. He referred to as on worldwide authorities to take motion in opposition to the violence, attributing it to rising violence and drug trafficking.
“The Ecuadorian persons are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he mentioned. “Politics can not result in the demise of any member of society.”
Police confirmed that a number of others have been injured, together with officers, describing the incident as a terrorist act and promising to resolve the killing.
Villavicencio was some of the important voices in opposition to corruption, particularly throughout the federal government of former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017. He filed many judicial complaints in opposition to excessive rating members of the Correa authorities, together with in opposition to the ex-president himself.
His feedback have been echoed different candidates who demanded motion, with main candidate Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution get together saying “after they contact one, they contact all of is.
One other candidate and former vp Otto Sonnenholzner, in the meantime, mentioned in a information convention, “We’re dying, drowning in a sea of tears and we don’t need to reside line this. We demand that you just do one thing”.
He was married and is survived by 5 kids.