In brief
A former mayor of Huaquillas and a councilor candidate were killed in an armed attack on Monday night in the Los Israelitas neighborhood, just three days before local elections in the El Oro province. Police are probing motives that may involve criminal group threats and extortion, amid a year that has seen nearly 1,000 homicides in the region, roughly 50 % more than the previous year.
In a fatal attack in the Los Israelitas neighborhood of Huaquillas, two political figures—former mayor Ronald Farfan and councilor candidate Cristhian Rugel—were shot dead on Monday night, Xinhua reports. The incident occurred days before the province’s local elections scheduled for November 29, and a woman was also killed, local media added, with the National Police confirming the deaths.
The victims were attending a political gathering with supporters when gunmen opened fire, Xinhua said. The gathering was described as a routine meet ahead of the November 29 ballot and was not a campaign rally for a major party, the police statement indicated.
Police investigators are looking into several possible motives. According to the National Police, potential causes include “threats and extortion by criminal groups,” and authorities are questioning whether the killings were politically motivated or linked to the province’s larger fight against organized crime, the agency said.
El Oro province has already recorded nearly 1,000 homicides in 2026, a figure that is about 50 % higher than the same period last year, Xinhua noted. The spike reflects a broader national trend of escalating violence that has raised concerns about public safety and the ability of local governments to conduct elections in a secure environment.
The upcoming elections will determine provincial prefects and vice‑prefects, mayors, urban and rural city councilors, and members of rural parish boards, Xinhua indicated. The politicians killed had been campaigning for some of those same positions, underscoring the direct impact of the shootings on the democratic process.
Local media in Huaquillas reported that the attack took place exactly in the Los Israelitas neighborhood where former mayor Farfan had previously served from 2016 to 2020. He was running again to reclaim the post, according to the police obituary list, while Rugel had campaigned to join the city council.
The National Police stated that a first‑time inquiry has been opened into the murders, and that the security situation in the province remains tense. The governor’s office issued a statement expressing sorrow over the loss of life and promising a thorough investigation, although the official release did not provide details on suspects.
In the days following the killings, local deputies called for an immediate increase in police presence in the area, saying that they “must protect the electoral process and the safety of voters.” Some community organizations have urged citizens to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Media coverage from both English and Spanish-language outlets, such as Xinhua’s English service and a Spanish-language report that was later inaccessible, documented the event and highlighted the high toll of violence that has plagued the southern coastal province.
The Associated Press has also covered the story, confirming the deaths of the former mayor and city councilor candidate and noting that the violence “has shaken the electoral process.” No direct quotes were provided by either outlet, but they both emphasized the national concern over rising homicide rates.
With only days left before the ballot, officials in Quito and the El Oro provincial government are scrambling to secure polling stations and reassure the electorate that the voting day can proceed without further incidents. “The people of Ecuador deserve to vote in a peaceful environment,” the vice‑prefect’s office remarked in a brief note.
Law enforcement agencies are continuing investigations into the identities and motives of the assailants. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility, and the media is reporting a persistent uncertainty about whether the act constitutes a targeted political assassination or a random criminal attack.
