Fernando Villavicencio was murdered by hitmen on August 9 (Portal/Karen Toro/File Photo)
The President of Ecuador, Guillermo Lassopresented an autopsy decoration Fernando Villavicencio, who sought the presidency of the Republic and was assassinated on August 9 after a rally in Quito. The decree highlights the fight against mafia, the courage and legacy of the politician, journalist and trade unionist.
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Villavicencio conducted more than 250 journalistic investigations that served to initiate cases against high state authorities for crimes against public administration. For example, his reports entitled “Green Rice” were pivotal in the conviction of several Correismo figures, including former President Rafael Correa.
The recitals of the decree justifying the award of the award state that “during his fruitful professional life, (Fernando Villavicencio) denounced and contributed relevant information on corruption cases in oil, mining, electrical and telecommunications matters in which state institutions have been involved, as well as the actions of criminal structures that have caused serious damage to security and public resources.”
Fernando Villavicencio’s investigations brought to light cases of corruption during the government of Rafael Correa
Likewise, the executive text highlights the work that Villavicencio did as president of the Congressional Oversight Commission: “During this time, he submitted ten oversight reports, presided over 16 policy processes, The axis of his management was the frontal struggle against immoral methods of embezzlement of funds. and a firm determination to address the country’s most pressing issues.”
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In 2021, Villavicencio entered the legislature with the support of an alliance between the Ecuadorian Socialist Party and the Concertación Movement. He won the elections as a national representative and was elected chairman of this commission. As a deputy, he condemned some of his colleagues (several from the Correísta bank) because he assured that they had plans to attack his life.
When Lasso ordered the dissolution of the Cross in May of this year, Villavicencio was the first to express his desire to take part in the extraordinary elections. A few days after these statements, the Construye movement made public its support for his candidacy. The politician “Structured his campaign around the fight against bribery mafia, drug trafficking and illegal mining in Ecuador“, the document says. Villavicencio was shot 11 days before the elections.
Fernando Villavicencio ran for president with the support of the Construye Movement (Portal/Henry Romero/File Photo)
According to the signed decree, “it is the duty of the Ecuadorian State and the National Government to celebrate the merits and virtues of Mr. Fernando Alcibiades Villavicencio Valencia, his honesty, his courage and his decisive action in upholding the values on which public work is based, “must be justified and to leave a legacy of hope to Ecuadorian citizens in general.”
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The degree of Grand Cross It is one of the highest honors that Ecuador bestows upon individuals who have served or represented the country in the civil, military or police sectors. The National Order of Merit awards have six degrees. The highest is that Great necklacewhich was only served to three people: the former president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica; to the former president of Peru, Martin Vizcarra; already Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current Emir of Qatar. This degree is followed by the degree that Villavicencio received; and the mentions of grand officer, commander, officer and knight.
On September 13, Lasso also presented several awards to American personalities. Six personalities received the Honorato Vásquez National Order, awarded to those who have made exceptional achievements in the political and diplomatic fields.
Bill Clinton and Guillermo Lasso at the inauguration of the Brotherhood Marine Reserve in Galapagos (Portal/Santiago Arcos)
Former President of the United States, Bill Clinton, was one of the award winners. Clinton was the only one to receive the degree of Grand Cross. The decoration decree argues that Clinton “He took an active part as a guarantor in the peace negotiations between the Republic of Ecuador and the Republic of PeruThis facilitated a constructive dialogue between both countries and their presidents and contributed to the signing of the Brasilia Law, which marked the end of the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border dispute and opened a new phase of peace, integration and cooperation. Add to that the former president’s support for “expanding the protection zone for the Galapagos Marine Reserve” and his commitment to democracy through the Clinton Global Initiative.
The actress was awarded the rank of commander Bo Derekfor promoting tourism to Ecuador; Susan Segal which chairs the Council of the Americas, for supporting the development of Latin American countries; The business woman Dona Bertarelli, for supporting the Debt for Nature Swap mechanism promoted by the Lasso government; the former senator Christopher John Dodd and the businesswoman Adrienne Arshtfor his contribution to strengthening relations between the United States and Ecuador.