The journalist Christian Suritawho was chosen to replace the late candidate for the presidency of Ecuador Fernando Villavicencio, assessed yesterday Thursday that international organized crime is behind the murder of his former colleague and friend.

Mr. Surita, 53, replaced Fernando Villavicencio, who was assassinated on August 9 by a group of Colombian hitmen, ahead of the elections to be held the day after tomorrow, Sunday, August 20.

The new candidate said he suspected that some of Fernando Villavicencio’s proposals to combat the activity of drug-trafficking networks may have led international cartels to organize his assassination.

Ecuador has been transformed a hub for cocaine smugglers seeking to traffic their merchandise from the country’s shores to the Pacific.

The action of the drug cartels is attributed to the escalation of violence to unprecedented levels in this country, once an oasis of calm in Latin America.

“I’m pretty sure he was killed because he wanted to militarize the ports and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Mr Surita said during a press conference on Thursday.

“An international mafia is behind his death,” he claimed. “We will not be able to proceed with this research without the support of Colombia,” he added.
A few days before he was murdered, the candidate had revealed that he had received threats from “Fito”, the head of the Tsoneros gang, which is said to have ties to dissidents from the former FARC rebel organization.

Mr. Surita he had collaborated with Fernando Villavicencio in investigations into corruption cases. “Not doing it [σ.σ. το να μην τον αντικαταστήσει] it would be a betrayal of his struggle, a betrayal of himself,” he judged.

His late mother, Gloria Valencia, approved this choice: “Cristian Surita is the only one who can replace my son,” she told El Universo newspaper.

Before his assassination, Fernando Villavicencio was in second place in terms of voting intentions, attracting just over 12%, according to the Cedatos institute.