Six people were arrested after the shooting of the presidential candidate. All six are from Colombia, the police said. At the center of the ongoing investigation is a man called “Fito” who is the leader of a notorious drug cartel. Villavicencio said just days before he was murdered that he had received death threats from Fito, and therefore expressed concern for his own life.
Villavicencio was a critical voice against corruption and was shot dead in connection with an election campaign rally in Ecuador’s capital Quito on Wednesday night, local time.
Three days after the murder, Fito was transferred to a maximum security prison, and thousands of soldiers and police were called in to monitor the transfer and to prevent further prison riots in the country.
In videos shared by security forces, Fito is seen handcuffed being moved to the second facility.
The election must be held as planned
The murder has left its mark, but despite the concerns of the Ecuadorian population, the presidential election will be held as planned, on August 20.
Just days after the murder, Villavicencio’s party Construye announced its new candidate, Andrea Gonzalez. Her career has largely focused on environmental issues.