During the period, there was an increase in threats against journalists, several of them death threats. Although this type of intimidation is not new in the country, until a few years ago it was not such a frequent phenomenon. The most serious incident was the killing of journalist Susy Aponte Polo, known as “China Polo,” a case that once again highlighted the risks faced by those who disseminate information on sensitive issues. In several incidents, including Aponte’s case, the journalists themselves had previously warned that their lives were at risk, but according to the complaints made public, they did not receive an effective response from the authorities.
In June, Congress, whose term ended in July, approved a report recommending that criminal proceedings be initiated against journalist Gustavo Gorriti, director of IDL-Reporteros, for allegedly exerting undue influence over prosecutors. The document, prepared by a parliamentary commission tasked with investigating the plea-bargaining agreement between the State and Odebrecht and chaired by Congressman Alejandro Muñante, attributed to the journalist the alleged crimes of bribery, influence peddling, and obstruction of justice. For years, Gorriti and his media outlet have investigated the corruption network linked to the Lava Jato case and Odebrecht. Press organizations, including the IAPA, and more than 200 journalists rejected the report.
In July, journalists from various media outlets were barred from entering the Chamber of Senators to cover the election of its leadership. The same restriction had been imposed two days earlier during the swearing-in of the senators. Journalists were only able to follow the proceedings on a television set installed in an adjacent room. The explanation given was that no space had been provided for the press. This was not the first time that Congress had restricted journalists’ access to its sessions.
In August, Congressman Aldo Antonio Bravo Quispe of Renovación Popular proposed amending Article 46 of the Criminal Code to establish advocacy of crime as an aggravating circumstance during periods of political crisis or social conflict when carried out “through any media outlet, digital platform, demonstration, or dissemination activity,” or when the speaker was an “opinion leader, communicator, digital content creator, influencer, or person with the ability to mobilize the public.” The proposal was withdrawn after receiving widespread criticism.
Bravo also proposed adding Article 316-B to the Criminal Code to establish an aggravating circumstance when, during periods of political crisis or social conflict, the use of explosive devices or similar objects was promoted, requested, encouraged, justified, or legitimized through the media, digital platforms, or other dissemination activities. Both proposals included prison sentences. The proposal was withdrawn after facing criticism, including from the Peruvian Press Council.
The period also saw death threats, attacks against journalists and media outlets, new lawsuits, and judicial decisions related to the so-called right to be forgotten, with potential effects on the continued availability and accessibility of journalistic information of public interest.
More than 60 journalists were affected by various types of attacks during the first quarter of the year, during the preliminary stage of the first round of the general elections, according to the National Association of Journalists of Peru. Sixty-nine percent of the cases were attributed to candidates, and 64% involved stigmatizing statements, although threats and physical assaults were also reported. Renovación Popular, led by Rafael López Aliaga, accounted for 44% of the attacks attributed to political parties, followed by Alianza para el Progreso, led by César Acuña, with 18%. Lima accounted for more than half of the attacks, followed by Puno, Huancayo, and Chiclayo.
During coverage of the first round of the elections, held on April 12 and 13, eight journalists were affected. One of the most notable cases involved Ysrael Rivera, a reporter for Radio Uno in Tarata, Tacna, who was detained by a police officer while covering the removal of political campaign materials from areas near polling stations. He was held for more than an hour in a police vehicle and subsequently taken to a police station, where he was released four hours later. In other cases, journalists were prevented from covering events at polling stations despite having prior authorization.
In June, the Constitutional Court (TC) ordered the newspaper El Comercio to remove three articles published in 2014 that linked Lorena Yadira Bellina Schrader, then an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, to the criminal organization associated with Rodolfo Orellana, who was convicted of money laundering. The TC upheld her claim concerning the right to be forgotten, as well as the rights to informational self-determination and honor. El Comercio maintained that the articles had merely reported information and that, because the information was lawful and accurate but had subsequently become outdated, it should have been updated rather than removed. The content was ultimately taken down from its website. The newspaper argued that removal should be an exceptional measure and that an appropriate balance must be sought with freedom of information.
On June 14, journalist Ceymor Rengifo of La Voz Ucayalina was detained at a police facility for an identity check after taking supporting footage from outside the Ucayali Police Criminal Investigation Division. Before his detention, the journalist had identified himself by presenting his national identity card to PNP Lieutenant Luis Miguel Pacheco Pilco, who was wearing civilian clothing.
On June 6, the home of journalist Julio Aquise in Arequipa was attacked with explosives. Aquise had submitted evidence to a local prosecutor’s office concerning alleged acts of corruption committed by police officers. Before the attack, an unidentified person had approached the journalist and warned him: “You like filing complaints, don’t you? Now things are going to get worse for you.” His lawyer said that Aquise had been under surveillance and harassment for a year.
In August, Ricardo Vásquez, the Somos Perú candidate for mayor of Chorrillos, announced legal action against journalist Renzo Giner of El Comercio and sought compensation of S/10 million (approximately US$2.95 million). The lawsuit was subsequently dismissed as inadmissible. At the same time, social media accounts linked to the candidate circulated an image of the journalist manipulated using artificial intelligence and accused him, without providing evidence, of receiving money in exchange for publishing an investigation. Giner had published a report in El Comercio about Vásquez based on screenshots of conversations allegedly involving the candidate and a 15-year-old girl, when he was 48.
That same month, César Hildebrandt, director of Hildebrandt en sus trece magazine, and journalist Eloy Marchán were sued by Argentine businessman Damián Valenzuela for alleged aggravated defamation. The weekly had published an investigation into his legal history and links to President Keiko Fujimori. Valenzuela sought prison sentences and US$1 million in civil damages. The businessman has stated that the proceedings against him have been civil rather than criminal in nature.
Also in August, the Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista filed a complaint for aggravated defamation against journalist Paola Ugaz, arguing that her reports on the organization’s financial affairs contained “false statements, inaccuracies, and unsupported allegations” that harmed its honor and reputation. The action adds to proceedings concerning alleged illicit enrichment initiated in April 2023 by Luciano Revoredo, director of the media outlet La Abeja, as well as other criminal proceedings brought in recent years for alleged aggravated defamation and money laundering.
On September 19, journalist Susy Aponte Polo, known as “China Polo,” was shot and killed in the city of Caraz, in Áncash. Aponte was a candidate for governor of the Áncash regional government and, at the same time, hosted a social media program focused on reporting allegations. Days before her killing, she had warned that her life was in danger because of an alleged corruption case that she was preparing to disclose on her YouTube channel. Police are investigating the killing as a possible contract killing. They also arrested Luis Iván Obispo Días, identified as the alleged perpetrator, and identified three other Venezuelan nationals who may have been involved in the crime.
On September 17, Kenny Yucra, a journalist and founder of the digital media outlet La Lupa, received death threats. He received videos of weapons via WhatsApp accompanied by intimidating messages, as well as his home address in Ica and the name of his one-and-a-half-year-old son. La Lupa had conducted investigations into candidates for various public offices in Ica ahead of the October regional and municipal elections. Some of the candidates investigated faced allegations of sexual abuse and alleged links to local criminal organizations. Yucra has also been the subject of a defamation lawsuit.
On September 10, the offices of La Noticia Clave, in Lambayeque, were attacked by unidentified gunmen. The incident occurred shortly after Johnny Namuche, the outlet’s director, had finished a news broadcast. Four shots were fired at the windows while several journalists were still working in the newsroom.
In September, five journalists in Iquitos, Loreto, were sued by Maynas anti-corruption prosecutor Calina Ysabel Otero Amasifuén. The defendants are Ángel Gabriel Rosendo Chamamé Valcárcel, director of Iquitos Informa; Abraham Rodríguez Vásquez, director of Alfa Romeo Noticias Iquitos; Delcar Róger Rosales Ramírez, director of Iquitos al Rojo Vivo; Nelson Ricardo Flores Salcedo, director of Lo que está pasando en Iquitos; and Fernando Rafael Tapia Coral, director of Semana Regional La Verdad de Loreto. The prosecutor filed the lawsuits after the five media outlets reported on two vehicles she had acquired within a period of less than five months, based on a suspicious transaction alert issued by the Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Administrators (SBS).
