González calls assassination plot a ‘diversion’ from election fraud; Quito is one of safest Latin American capitals; Arrests made in Manabí shooting

Defeated presidential candidate Luisa González and other leaders of the Correista movement are calling the government’s claim that terrorists are plotting to assassinate President Daniel Noboa and other officials a “diversionary ploy.” They insist that the alleged plot is an effort to deflect attention from the “mega fraud” committed in the election.

“This so-called plot was created to divert attention from the massive fraud committed during the election as well as the reign of terror being carried out on members of Citizens Revolution following the election,” González said.

Citizens Revolution presidential candidate Luisa González addresses supporters about alleged fraud in the April 13 election. In the background, former President Rafael Correa listens on a video feed from Belgium.

Former president Rafael Correa called news of the plot “a Chinese box trick” to divert attention from the election fraud. “It is predictable given the corruption and stupidity of Noboa and his minions,” Correa said, citing the timing of the allegations after the election.

On Saturday, the National Police Command defended announcement of the plot, saying it was known on April 11, two days before the election. “Out of fairness to the election process and in consultation with the prosecutor’s office and the elections council, we decided to withhold the information until after the election.”

Quito is one of the safest Latin American capitals
City officials want to get out the word that Quito is one of the safest capitals in Latin America. Municipal Security Secretary Carolina Andrade said Sunday that she intends to “correct the perception” that murders and violent crime rates are high in Quito.

“This perception is because of news reports about the drug-related murders and violence in the coastal cities but it is important that people know this is a localized situation and does not directly impact Quito,” she said in a radio interview. “In 2024, Quito recorded eight murders per 100,000 inhabitants, an improvement from 10 murders in 2023. Among all Latin American capitals, only Santiago de Chile and Lima have lower murder rates.”

Andrade outlined new programs aimed at making Quito safer, saying city leaders “are making major investments” toward the security of its citizens.

“Our goal, honestly, is to make Quito as safe as our sister cities to the south,” she said, in reference to Cuenca and Loja, which have murder rates that are less than Quito’s and among the lowest in all of Latin America. “Because of our large population, this is not easy, but we are determined to continue making progress.”

Arrests made in Manabí shooting
National Police arrested three men and one woman Saturday in connection with an attack by gunmen at a cockfighting ring in Manabí Province in which 12 people died Thursday night. Those arrested were part of the group of assailants that entered the arena just before midnight and began shooting indiscriminately.

Weapons, cash and replica police and army uniforms were seized during the police raids in the north-western Manabí province on Friday and Saturday, in the rural community of La Valencia, the site of the attack.

The men were transferred to the maximum security La Roca prison in Guayaquil following an arraignment hearing before a criminal court judge.

According to investigators, those arrested are members of the R7 criminal gang which has been linked to several prison massacres in 2022 and 2023.