Why the extremes in the weather? Earthquake embezzlement trial gets the go-ahead; Weather emergency declared; Million-dollar ‘Fito’ award offered

According to retired meteorologist Carlos Pallares, Azuay Province has seen the worst drought and rainiest two months in recorded history within less than six months. “It is totally amazing, the extremes we have experienced so close together,” he said Wednesday in a television interview.

Pallares, who was deputy director of the Instituto Nacional Meteorologia e Hidrologia when he retired in 2008, offered a series of statistics showing the extent of the drought, which he said covered a 20-month period in southern Ecuador, as well as rainfall totals since the beginning of the year. “I do not have all the totals for rain but I am fairly certain that when they are added and averaged, it will show that January and February broke all previous records.”

Flooded streets in many communities have become a common scene since January.

Asked by the Telerama interviewer for his opinion about the abrupt weather changes, he said climate change plays the biggest role. “This cannot be denied, in Ecuador or any other place in the world,” he said. “The weather records prove this beyond a doubt.”

Closer to home, there is another factor affecting the weather, he added. “The deforestation of the Amazon may be responsible for the intense dry and wet periods that occur so close together. We are learning more about this from recent studies. The jungle has a moderating impact on the weather and with so much of it destroyed, the moisture cycles are disrupted, allowing sudden and more dramatic changes.”

Earthquake embezzlement trial gets the go-ahead
The National Court of Justice announced Wednesday that the trial of nine people, including former vice president Jorge Glas, on charges of embezzlement of 2016 earthquake reconstruction funds has resumed after an 80-day delay. Former Minister of Public Works Walter Solís and former Secretary of Reconstruction Carlos Bernal are also charged in the case.

The prosecutor’s office claims that the accused “mismanaged and embezzled money intended for reconstruction and other relief projects” following the 7.8 earthquake that devasted parts of Manabí and Esmeraldas Provinces. Judge Marco Aguirre is hearing the case.

On Wednesday, Aguirre dismissed 17 appeals from defendants to dismiss charges, including one from Glas’ attorneys. The judge also dismissed a request that Glas be admitted to a psychiatric hospital but ordered prosecutors to investigate claims he was tortured in prison.

Solís was convicted of corruption in Miami last year and is currently serving a prison term in the U.S. According to prosectors, much of the money Solís used to purchase Florida real estate was embezzled from the earthquake reconstruction funds.

Weather emergency declared
The National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) has declared a weather emergency in areas suffering from flooding and landslides. The COE said the communities needing additional support are located in all sectors of the country.

On Wednesday and Thursday, more flooding was reported on the Malacatos River in Loja, while landslides and flooding have destroyed three homes in San Juan de Manta, in Manabí Province. New weather-related deaths were reported in Esmeraldas and Guayas Provinces, the National Risk Management office reported.

The emergency declaration includes eight provisions, including humanitarian aid, coordination with the national government for damage repair and remediation, and an exemption from voting requirements in the April 13 election.

Million-dollar ‘Fito’ award offered
The Interior Ministry has announced a reward of one million dollars for information that leads to the capture of Adolfo Macías, alias “Fito,” leader of the criminal organization Los Choneros. The ministry announced a new ‘Fito hotline,’ 1-800-DELITO (335486) for those with information to share.

Macías is accused of multiple crimes, including murder, extortion, escape and evasion of justice. On January 7, 2024, he walked out of the Guayaquil Regional Prison, allegedly after bribing guards, shortly before he was scheduled to be transferred to the maximum security La Roca prison.

His escape was one of the events that prompted President Daniel Noboa to declare his “war on terrorists” and the imposition of a series of emergency declarations.