The journalist who was wounded by the gunshots managed to drive his car to a hospital, where he is in critical condition. (Photo: El Telégrafo).
Miami (July 28, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expresses its strong condemnation and deep concern over the armed attack against journalist Marcelo Ruiz, correspondent for TC Televisión and director of the digital media outlet Últimas Noticias on Facebook. The attack occurred Friday night in Portoviejo, Manabí Province, where he was injured and underwent surgery at the Portoviejo Specialty Hospital.
According to local media reports, Ruiz was riding a motorcycle in the El Guabito area on the Portoviejo–Santa Ana road when he was intercepted and shot multiple times in the arms. Both Ruiz and his companion were injured and remain in stable condition under medical care.
The Ecuadorian press freedom organization Fundamedios expressed alarm over the attack and stated that it is closely monitoring the journalist’s health. It urged authorities to “act swiftly and bring those responsible to justice.”
José Roberto Dutriz, president of the IAPA, described the attack as “a grave assault that highlights the growing risks faced by journalists in Ecuador.” Dutriz, CEO and general director of La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador, added: “Ecuadorian authorities must act quickly to clarify the facts, punish those responsible, and guarantee the safety of Marcelo Ruiz and all reporters working in vulnerable conditions.”
Martha Ramos, chair of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, said that “this attack must not go unpunished. Every new assault on a journalist that goes unanswered strengthens the cycle of violence and impunity. We call on the Ecuadorian government to provide effective protection for journalists and ensure a safe environment for the practice of journalism,” added Ramos, editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM).
According to the IAPA’s latest biannual report on Ecuador, local journalism remains a constant target of attacks. The current situation is linked to “rising violence associated with organized crime and the implementation of restrictive policies that limit the freedom of expression of the media and civil society.”
The IAPA’s Chapultepec Index reports that in Ecuador, “the scale of violence and impunity remains the most significant challenge” to press freedom.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.