Ecuadorian Prosecutor Presents Evidence Against Former Vice President José Serrano in Villavicencio Murder Case

On July 12, 2026, Ecuadorian prosecutor Ana Hidalgo presented individualized evidence linking former vice president José Serrano to the planning of the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The testimony cited chats and statements that placed Serrano and former president Jorge Glas at the top of a five‑level conspiratorial structure, with Xavier Jordán handling financing, assemblyman Ronny Aleaga coordinating, and Daniel Salcedo linking the plot to the criminal group Los Lobos. Additional testimonies referenced communications with narcotrafficker contacts, plans to locate the target, and efforts to secure sicarios in Cali, Colombia. The prosecutor also detailed the involvement of other accused, including Wilmer Chavarría, Luis Arboleda and Esteban Aguilar. Judge Giovanni Freire suspended the hearing later that day, promising to reschedule. The presentation follows earlier evidence against Jordán and underlines a broader network of political and criminal actors alleged to have orchestrated the 2022 magnicidio.