Ecuadorian prosecutors demand protection after official's murder

The Latin American Federation of Prosecutors (FLF) has condemned the Ecuadorian state for its failure to protect judicial officers. The organization issued a statement following the murder of José Luis Merchán Perero, the secretary of the Prosecutor's Office in Salinas assigned to the Aquatic Crimes Unit.

Merchán Perero was killed on August 17, 2026, as he arrived at his institutional headquarters in his vehicle. The FLF described the incident as evidence of the state’s inability to safeguard those tasked with prosecuting criminals. The federation warned that if these security failures persist, it will seek recourse through international human rights mechanisms and courts to hold the state accountable for its inaction.