Judge orders pre-trial release of ‘Otavalo 12’; Poll shows support for referendum; Overseas remittances hit record level; Sex ed is mostly on porn sites

Twelve Otavalo men suspected of burning a police checkpoint have been released from prison. The men had been held in an Ibarra prison since September 22 on charges of terrorism, illicit association and resisting arrest.

Judge Fernando Sanchez cited “limited evidence” presented by prosecutors as the reason for his release order, pending further investigation and trial.

Based on a recent poll, President Daniel Noboa’s referendum questions will be approved by Ecuadorians.

At the hearing, prosecutors reacted angrily to the judge’s order, claiming the release put the public in danger. The judge responded that investigators did a “sloppy and inadequate job” of building a case.

Mario Ruiz, attorney for the 12 men, said only one of his clients has a criminal record and that was for a “relatively minor offense.”

Poll shows support for referendum questions
A new poll by the public opinion group Click Report shows broad support for President Daniel Noboa’s four referendum questions. Voters will make the final decision on the questions November 16.

According to the Click survey, 59.9% of voters favor convening a constituent assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. The question to allow foreign military bases in the country received 58.47% support, while those to eliminate public financing for elections and to reduce the number of National Assembly members received 66.87% and 69.1% support respectively.

The poll consulted 2,280 people in Pichincha, Guayas, Manabí and Azuay Provinces between October 13 and 22.

Overseas remittances hit record level
Money sent home from Ecuadorians living abroad totaled $3.73 billion through the first six month of 2025, a 24% increase over the same period of 2024. The amount is an all-time record for a six-month period, according to Ecuador’s Central Bank.

About 75% of remittances came from the United States, with the balance coming from Spain and other European countries, the bank says.

According to Luis Tobar Pesántez, Economics professor at the Salesian Polytechnic University and an advisor to the bank, the increase is the result of several factors, including new immigration restrictions in the U.S. Extra incentive comes from the 1% exit tax the U.S. will apply to foreign money transfers beginning in 2026.

“There is more urgency than ever to transfer money out of the U.S. to families in Ecuador and to Ecuadorian banks and cooperatives,” says Pesántez. “One consideration is that certificates of deposit in Ecuador pay as much as 6% more than those kept in the U.S.”

Most kids get sex education on pornography sites
A university study claims that internet pornography sites are the primary source of sex education for 60% of Ecuadorian children and youth. Marie-France Merlyn, psychology professor at Catholic University-Quito, says her research indicates a “failure” of public education.

Merlyn said it is understandable that young people turn to the internet due to the inadequacy of comprehensive sex education in the country’s public and private schools. “Good education in sexuality from childhood, with clear, effective and respectful language, is the key to preventing misunderstandings and risky sexual behaviors,” she said. “Today, sadly, pornography sites provide more education on the subject than parents and schools. For many young people, it has become their main reference on sexual activity.”

Among her findings in surveying 590 high school and university students, was that only 60% of young people use condoms in pre-marital sex. “The failure of our schools has resulted in high rates of disease and unwanted pregnancies,” Merlyn said.