Fernando Villavicencio, , Ecuadorian Presidential Candidate, , Assassinated.
Villavicencio was shot and killed at a campaign rally in Quito, Ecuador, on Aug. 9, NPR reports. .
His murder was confirmed by
President Guillermo Lasso, who suggested that organized crime was to blame.
His murder was confirmed by
President Guillermo Lasso, who suggested that organized crime was to blame.
I assure you that this crime will
not go unpunished. Organized crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law, President Guillermo Lasso, via statement.
Villavicencio, who often spoke against corruption, previously said he was
receiving numerous death threats.
Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel was reportedly
among those issuing threats. .
Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio's campaign adviser, said the 59-year-old politician was threatened at least three times prior to the shooting.
Zuquilanda notified authorities,
and one party was detained.
But the precautionary measures weren't enough, prompting Zuquilanda to call on the intervention of international authorities.
The Ecuadorian people are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded. Politics cannot lead to the death
of any member of society, Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio's campaign adviser, via statement.
Fellow presidential candidates
demanded action as well.
We are dying, drowning in a sea of tears and we do not deserve to live like this. We demand that you do something, Otto Sonnenholzner, presidential candidate
and former vice president, via statement.
When they touch one of us,
they touch all of us, Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution party, via statement