Dennis Villavicencio, the prosecutor handling the Goleada case, has justified his absence from a scheduled appeals hearing regarding the preventive detention of five accused individuals, including Aquiles Alvarez. The hearing was initially set for March 2, where the focus was on allegations of organized crime related to money laundering and tax fraud involving eleven individuals.

In a formal communication sent after the missed hearing, Villavicencio explained that his non-attendance was due to an official trip abroad, as he had been delegated by the highest authority of the State Attorney General's Office to attend the Seventh Meeting of the Network of Officials in Charge of Enforcing Anti-Corruption Laws in Latin America and the Caribbean (Red LAC LEN). This official engagement highlights the commitment of the prosecutor's office to collaborate on anti-corruption efforts in the region.

The court has now rescheduled the appeals hearing for Thursday, and Villavicencio's absence raises concerns about the implications for the ongoing case. His request to revoke the abandonment of the appeal reflects the prosecutor's intention to maintain a firm stance against organized crime and pursue justice for the alleged offenses within the Goleada case. This situation is particularly significant as it underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing organized crime in Ecuador.