Villavicencio was shot lifeless at a Movimiento Construye political rally at a college north of the capital Quito, marketing campaign staff members Cristian Zurita and Rodrigo Figueroa confirmed to CNN.
Villavicencio was gunned down 10 days earlier than the primary spherical of the presidential election was set to happen on August 20.
“I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished,” Lasso mentioned in an announcement.
“Organised crime has gone too far, but they will feel the full weight of the law.”
Ecuador’s lawyer basic’s workplace mentioned a suspect within the assassination of Villavicencio died of wounds after being arrested by authorities.
Violence in Ecuador, a traditionally calm nation, has surged up to now yr as drug traffickers have flocked to the South American nation, leading to a regarding uptick in drug trafficking, violent killings and baby recruitment by gangs.
Videos on social media seem to indicate the candidate strolling out of the occasion surrounded by guards.
The video then exhibits Villavicencio coming into a white truck adopted by gunfire.
Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s marketing campaign adviser, mentioned the candidate had acquired demise threats earlier than the capturing, which he had reported to authorities and resulted in a single detention. He referred to as on worldwide authorities to take motion towards the violence, attributing it to rising violence and drug trafficking.
“The Ecuadorian people are crying and Ecuador is mortally wounded,” he mentioned.
“Politics cannot lead to the death of any member of society.”
Police confirmed that a number of others had been injured, together with officers, describing the incident as a terrorist act and promising to resolve the killing.
The politician, 59, was the candidate for the Build Ecuador Movement.
He was one among eight presidential candidates for the late August election.
He was one of the crucial crucial voices towards corruption, particularly throughout the federal government of former President Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017.
He filed many judicial complaints towards high-ranking members of the Correa authorities, together with towards the ex-president himself.
His feedback had been echoed by different candidates who demanded motion, with main candidate Luisa González of the Citizen Revolution get together saying “when they touch one, they touch all of us”.
Another candidate and former vp Otto Sonnenholzner, in the meantime, mentioned in a news convention, “We are dying, drowning in a sea of tears and we do not deserve to live like this. We demand that you do something”.
Villavicencio was married and is survived by 5 kids.
Source: www.9news.com.au
