Colombian authorities have revealed that the six individuals who were apprehended in relation to the murder of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio are Colombian nationals. An additional suspect, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a police shootout, was also of Colombian origin.

The tragic incident occurred as Mr. Villavicencio was leaving a campaign event in the capital city of Quito. The Interior Minister, Juan Zapata, confirmed that a police inquiry into the "heinous incident" is underway, with efforts focused on uncovering the motive and masterminds behind the crime.

The detainees have been identified as Andres M, Jose N, Eddy G, Camilo R, Jules C, and Jhon Rodriguez. During the operation leading to their apprehension, law enforcement discovered an arsenal including a rifle, submachine gun, pistols, grenades, ammunition, motorbikes, and a stolen vehicle.

A staunch critic of organized crime, Mr. Villavicencio was among the few presidential contenders who alleged connections between corruption and government officials. President Guillermo Lasso described the assassination as an effort to disrupt the election process and reaffirmed that voting would proceed as scheduled on August 20, despite a national state of emergency.

President Lasso has also requested the assistance of US federal agents, including FBI agents, in the investigation. Notably, Mr. Villavicencio had received threats from a criminal group known as Los Choneros and had been assigned a security detail in response.

Following his murder, a video appeared on social media in which heavily armed men wearing balaclavas claimed responsibility for the murder. The men claimed to belong to Los Lobos (The Wolves), who are rivals of Los Choneros.

However, another video appeared online just hours later, in which another group of men - this time not wearing masks - claimed they were Los Lobos members and denied any role in the assassination, claiming the other video was an attempt by their rivals to set them up for the murder.

In country where many bad things are happening, sometimes everyone becomes a suspect.

Noted