Ecuadorian journalist Hernán Higuera halts Progen probe after family harassment

Ecuadorian journalist Hernán Higuera announced he will no longer pursue the investigation into the Progen case, following what he describes as retaliation against his family. After his televised reports, his wife was dismissed from a public position and his son lost a medical internship, incidents Higuera says should not be used for political purposes. He issued a public letter thanking supporters and stating, "ni mi familia ni yo representamos una causa política," and warned that "lo ocurrido con mi hijo no debería ser utilizado por ningún sector político." The broadcaster Ecuavisa highlighted the developments, and the Comisión Nacional Anticorrupción expressed concern over a "creciente atmósfera de persecución" toward journalists and media outlets investigating matters of public interest. The episode adds to recent tensions between the Ecuadorian government and the press over investigative reporting.