It definitely looks like something fishy is going on here. On August 9, former Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated, which sent shockwaves throughout the entire country. Now, the six suspects that have been accused of his murder were discovered dead inside Litoral Penitentiary, one of Ecuador’s largest and most dangerous prisons on October 6.
Litoral Penitentiary has been a frequent site of deadly riots over the past few years. This severe lack of safety is unacceptable and must not be tolerated in any correctional facility, especially when it could have an impact on a high-profile murder investigation such as this one.
It has been speculated that Villavicencio was threatened by associates of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel prior to his death; if true, then these six inmates had ties to organized crime and should not have been among other prisoners who are serving less serious sentences for non-violent crimes.
Tras la información de los seis crímenes ocurridos en el Centro de Privación de Libertad No. 1, en Guayaquil, he dispuesto sesionar, de inmediato, al Gabinete de Seguridad.
En las próximas horas regresaré al Ecuador para atender esta emergencia.
Ni complicidad ni…
— Guillermo Lasso (@LassoGuillermo) October 7, 2023
In response to these deaths, law enforcement agencies including the public prosecutor’s office, police, and military initiated their own security protocols. Specialized military personnel were dispatched to conduct reconnaissance and regain control of Cellblock 7 where the incident took place.
President Guillermo Lasso also declared an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet upon hearing news of what happened at Litoral Penitentiary in order to make sure there would be no complicity or cover-up in this investigation. He promised that all efforts would be made to uncover the truth behind these incidents without any attempts at hiding what really happened on October 6th inside Litoral prison.
At times like this it is important for politicians like President Guillermo Lasso to step up and ensure justice is served for those affected by criminal activity such as this one. It is our hope that President Lasso’s commitment towards uncovering what truly happened without any form of deception will bring justice not only for Villavicencio but also for his family and loved ones mourning over his loss.
