Patricio Aguilar, creator and editor of the Colombian newspaper El Libertador, was shot and killed while covering the rescue of a person allegedly kidnapped by a criminal group in Ecuador. His death adds to the growing wave of violence against journalists in the region.
The crime occurred on Tuesday, March 4, in Quinindé, Esmeraldas, one of Ecuador’s most insecure areas. Around 4:00 PM, Aguilar was shopping when a man approached his wife, Cecibel Jama, at their home, claiming to have information about a rescued kidnapping victim. She asked him to return during working hours.
Shortly after, Aguilar arrived home and told his wife he was going to cover the story. Minutes later, around 5:00 PM, Cecibel Jama received a call informing her that her husband had been murdered. The journalist was shot at least 30 times. The motive for the crime remains unknown.
Days before his murder, Aguilar had published several reports on rising criminal activity in the city, exposing issues such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and corruption—coverage that may have made him a target.
His killing comes amid Ecuador’s deepening security crisis, where threats against journalists have surged. Since 2023, worsening insecurity has forced several reporters into exile. According to Fundamedios, at least 16 journalists have fled due to threats and attacks related to their work.
This brutal crime is an attack on press freedom and further endangers journalists in Ecuador. Free Press Alliance calls on the Ecuadorian government to take urgent action to protect journalists and ensure justice. Impunity must not prevail—safeguarding the press is essential to upholding the right to information.