By Associated Press
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — An Ecuadorian presidential candidate recognized for talking up in opposition to corruption was shot and killed Wednesday at a political rally within the capital, an assault that comes 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 certainly one of eight candidates within the Aug. 20 presidential vote, although not the frontrunner.
“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso mentioned in a press release. “Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”
The killing comes as Ecuador is rattled by rising violent killings and drug trafficking.
Videos on social media seem to indicate the candidate strolling out of the occasion surrounded by guards. The video then exhibits Villavicencio getting into a white truck adopted by gunfire.
The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Build Ecuador Movement.
Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s marketing campaign adviser, instructed the Associated Press the candidate had acquired dying threats earlier than the capturing, which he had reported to authorities. He known as on worldwide authorities to take motion in opposition to the violence, attributing it to rising violence and drug trafficking.
“The Ecuadorian people are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he mentioned. “Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”
Other candidates echoed Zuquilanda of their calls for for motion, with former vp Otto Sonnenholzner saying in a information convention, “We are dying, drowning in a sea of tears and we do not deserve to live line this. We demand that you do something”.
Villavicencio was probably the most 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.
Early accounts present that a number of others had been injured within the assault, although authorities didn’t affirm what number of.
He was married and is survived by 5 youngsters.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”