In a significant development in the investigation of the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, a judge from Pichincha, Ecuador, has ordered preventive detention for three members of the criminal group Los Lobos. These individuals - Wilmer Geovanny Chavarría Barré, alias Pipo; Ángel Esteban Aguilar Morales, alias Lobo Menor; and Luis Arboleda, alias Gordo Luis - are now formally connected to the ongoing penal case. This ruling follows four previous attempts to link them to the case, demonstrating the complexities and challenges faced by the prosecution. The judge has also extended the phase of fiscal instructions by an additional 30 days, allowing further investigation into the potential intellectual authors of the crime.

As part of the preventive measures, Interpol has been notified to issue a red notice for Lobo Menor, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. The prosecutor's office aims to gather more evidence against these suspects as part of a broader investigation involving alleged masterminds behind the assassination. Notably, this case has also implicated high-profile individuals including José Serrano, a former minister under President Rafael Correa, highlighting the deep entanglement of politics and crime in Ecuador.

The significance of this ruling extends beyond individual legal consequences; it reflects the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Ecuador and raises questions about political security and the rule of law in the country. The assassination of Villavicencio, a prominent critic of corruption, has sparked national outrage and demands for accountability in a system riddled with violence and impunity. This ruling could thus serve as a pivotal moment in the narrative of judicial efficacy and state response to crime in Ecuador, indicating a possible shift towards greater enforcement of law and order in the face of ongoing threats to public safety.