President Guillermo Lasso opted for experience. This Wednesday, April 26, General (sp) Wagner Bravo was appointed as the new Secretary of State for Public Security and General (sp) Paco Moncayo as his Government Security Adviser.

Both with military experience, but also training in social policy and closeness to the community. Paco Moncayo is the hero of Cenepa, the head of the Joint Command, he was the mayor of Quito, a legislator, but long before, from the military fortress of Huancavilca, he did social and academic work.

Wagner Bravo Jaramillo was a combatant in the Cenepa war in 1995 in the special forces brigade, chief of the Army General Staff and member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Social Security of the Armed Forces (Issfa). Plus, a student of homeland security, just like Moncayo.

The government is turning to Wagner Bravo and Paco Moncay, two heroes of Cenepa, to lead the country’s security strategy

The profiles of the new officials, who in their possession spoke of a crusade against violence and insecurity, encourage us to think about a promising turn in the actions against crime that has overwhelmed the country.

But the fact that they added them to the government team is not enough. Knowing the experience of both, they have to come up with a clear plan that has general support based on the strength of their convictions. This means that work is articulated among the entire public force. Given the current situation, it would be desirable for the governors, at least in the most conflicted provinces, to have experience in security matters or to be trained to follow the recommendations of experts. And that the judiciary behaves responsibly in every case that arises.

The experience is an opportunity that Ecuadorians should not miss. Excess trust takes its toll, so it is time to unite for a territory of peace, as declared by the officials who also asked for the cooperation of public and private organizations, elected authorities and citizens. (OR)