Seven charged with trial for assassination of Villavicencio, including alias 'Pipo'
A judge called seven defendants to trial for the murder of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Those implicated include alias 'Pipo', 'Lobo Menor' and José Serrano.
Judge sends seven to trial for assassination of Fernando Villavicencio
A judge issued a call to trial against seven persons for their alleged participation as indirect perpetrators in the assassination of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, which occurred on 9 August 2023, days before the presidential elections. According to reporting by eltelegrafo.com.ec, the General Prosecutor's Office communicated the ruling on 5 November 2026 through its official account on the social media platform X.
The seven defendants are Xavier J., José S., Daniel S., Ronny A., Wilmer Ch. —alias "Pipo"—, Ángel A. —alias "Lobo Menor"— and Luis A. —alias "Gordo Luis"—, all identified as alleged indirect perpetrators of the crime.
Roles attributed to Daniel Salcedo and alias 'Pipo'
The Prosecutor's Office presented 36 pieces of evidence against Daniel Salcedo, whom it positions as a logistical facilitator and criminal link. According to the accusation, he would have established contact between the alleged planners of the attack and the criminal organisation Los Lobos.
With regard to alias "Pipo", identified by the office as the top leader of Los Lobos, 15 pieces of evidence were presented that would identify him as the operational director of the attack. The prosecution's hypothesis holds that the crime would have been contracted for a sum of one million dollars.
The Prosecutor's Office further argues that "Pipo" would have used sensitive police information to distribute functions, mobilise resources, oversee surveillance and authorise the participation of members of the criminal organisation.
Digital evidence and testimony
Among the evidence gathered by the investigation are conversations on Threema and WhatsApp Business, messages linked to Leandro N., Daniel S., Mayra S. and Lenín V., as well as anticipated testimony, records of prison visits and computer forensics.
The chronology presented by the Prosecutor's Office places the first contacts related to the attack in May 2022, when conversations from that period would link Leandro N., Xavier J., Ronny A. and Daniel S. with a potential planning of attacks.
According to the prosecution's reconstruction, these elements would allow for the establishment of possible co-ordinations between those involved in different stages of the crime.
Source: Google News EC — Crime