Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Álvarez returns to prison after surgery

Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Álvarez has returned to the Cárcel del Encuentro prison in Santa Elena following a medical procedure. After undergoing emergency gallbladder surgery at Clínica Alcívar in Guayaquil on October 2, Álvarez remained hospitalized for several days to recover.

His lawyer, Julio César Cueva, confirmed that the transfer back to the penitentiary occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 6. The timing of the transfer was not disclosed in advance due to security reasons.

Álvarez has been in custody since March 2026 and faces multiple legal cases, including the Triple A case involving irregular fuel trade, the Grillete case regarding non-compliance with authority decisions, and an ongoing investigation into money laundering known as the Goleada case. Despite his incarceration and absence from in-person duties, he remains the official mayor of Guayaquil, with Tatiana Coronel serving as the acting mayor since February.