The mayor of Portovelo, Jorge Maldonado, is murdered hours before the referendum

Political violence has once again shaken Ecuador with the murder of Mayor Jorge Armando Maldonado Sánchez, who was brutally murdered this Friday morning in the center of the Portovelo canton, province of El Oro. This horrifying event occurred just hours before the national referendum. .

Maldonado, 56, was shot while carrying out personal tasks in the mining city. Two still unidentified individuals approached him in the middle of the street and attacked him with shots before fleeing the crime scene. Despite the efforts of the police, those responsible are still at large.

This tragic incident occurs less than 48 hours after the murder of Mayor José Sánchez in the mining town of Camilo Ponce Azuay. Both crimes stand out amid the growing wave of violence facing Ecuador, especially since President Daniel Noboa intensified the fight against organized crime.

Jorge Maldonado, who took over as mayor of Portovelo in 2023 with the support of the CREO movement, had stood out for his commitment to local development and citizen security. In his inauguration speech, he expressed his determination to work for the well-being of Portoveleños, promoting work, safety and the quality of municipal services.

Maldonado's loss adds to the list of politicians murdered in Ecuador in recent times, including the mayors of Manta, Agustín Intriago, and of San Vicente, Briggite García. The country faces a critical situation of insecurity since the escape of drug trafficking leaders from prisons at the beginning of the year.