Ecuador and the Ecuadorian community living outside the country have been moved by the horrific murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio Valencia. Never before have we experienced something so powerful and painful so closely.

Contemporaries by age and colleagues by profession, I had the pleasure of meeting him personally. I admired his ability to argue and prove the credibility of his research, his deep voice, impeccable presence and his love for music. Brave, an idealist with high values ​​of honor, ethics and morality, and always a seeker of the truth, he was a true journalist who informed Ecuadorian society.

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The author of countless investigations, he never gave up exposing those who harmed the country’s interests. It was characterized by the condemnation and confrontation of public officials and businessmen linked to illegal activities, links between drug trafficking and organized crime, both in Ecuador and in other Latin American countries.

An outspoken critic of state corruption and organized crime, he had a long history in Ecuadorian public affairs, mostly as an antagonist to those in power, always on the heels of their misdeeds, ready to seek and find evidence. to support all your claims.

The country is falling apart!

His corruption investigations have toured the world inspiring documentaries such as This stolen country of mine, by German director Marc Wiese and produced by Carlos Andrés Vera. Irregularities in hundreds of contracts, the corruption scheme of Petrochina and the impact of mine exploitation on the environment in Ecuador were reported there. Villavicencio described it as “an unnamed booty, China has taken control of natural resources.”

Journalist, trade union leader, member of parliament, his candidacy for president was his last attempt to bring back the peace and tranquility we had lost through brave and honest leadership.

The news of the assassination of Fernando Villavicenci caused tears, pain, shock and uncertainty throughout Ecuador and flooded the front pages of the international press.

the newspaper The New York Times reported: “Ecuador, reeling from the assassination of a candidate, has changed forever. The killing of Fernando Villavicencio marks a terrible turning point for a once peaceful country now engulfed in violence fueled by drug gangs.”

The history of Latin America reminds us of other presidential candidates who also had the same ‘luck’ to be assassinated in the middle of the campaign. Jorge Eliecer Gaitán, Luis Carlos Galán and Bernardo Jaramillo Ossa in Colombia and Luis Donaldo Colosio in Mexico, had a common intention to fight against corruption, violence and strive for a better state for their compatriots.

Unfortunately, my indefatigable colleague left never to return, his plans to end the so-called (by him) “Ecuadorian narco-state” left good intentions ready for anyone who wants to expose himself to the same risk of losing his life in the attempt. As journalist Fernando del Rincón from the chain said Cnn in Spanish: “namesake, we will miss you”. (OR)