Miami (June 23, 2026) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) strongly condemns acts of harassment and reprisals against Ecuadorian journalist Hernán Higuera, of Ecuavisa, because of his investigations into alleged corruption.
Miami (June 23, 2026) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) strongly condemns acts of harassment and reprisals against Ecuadorian journalist Hernán Higuera, of Ecuavisa, because of his investigations into alleged corruption.
Higuera announced on June 19, during Ecuavisa’s main newscast, his decision to step away from the investigation of the so-called Progen case, after denouncing pressure exerted by state institutions against his wife and son. The network also warned of reprisals following coverage of the case, which involves a U.S.-based company and alleged irregularities in contracts signed during the 2024 energy crisis, reportedly involving government authorities.
Following the broadcast of his reports, the Secretary General of Public Administration, José Julio Neira, issued a statement against Higuera. In addition, the use of state entities such as the Agency for Regulation and Control of Telecommunications (Arcotel) and the Council for Regulation, Development and Promotion of Information and Communication (Cordicom) has been reported as a means of exerting pressure on the journalist, in a context that reflects a pattern of institutional intimidation.
The journalist also cited as reprisals the dismissal of his wife from a public company and the suspension of his son from his position as a medical student at a social security hospital. These measures, directed at his family, directly influenced his decision to abandon the investigation.
“The use of state institutions to harass a journalist and retaliate against his family constitutes an abuse of power and a violation of press freedom. These practices seek to instill fear as a mechanism of censorship,” said IAPA President Pierre Manigault, president of Evening Post Publishing Inc., in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.
For her part, Martha Ramos, president of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), stated that “it is a matter of deep concern that investigative journalism may give rise to actions perceived as reprisals. In a democratic society, it is essential that journalists be able to carry out their work without pressure or intimidation. We call for the immediate cessation of these actions and for effective guarantees for the free and independent practice of journalism.”
Ecuavisa stated that official pressure has aimed to obstruct investigations into the Progen case and weaken watchdog journalism on matters of public interest.
In the Progen case, the Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting 21 individuals for the alleged crime of embezzlement. According to investigations, $104 million in public funds were allocated for the purchase of power generators for the Quevedo and Salitral thermal plants; however, the equipment delivered was used, refurbished, and did not meet the required technological standards.
The National Federation of Journalists of Ecuador (FENAPE) and the Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study (Fundamedios), among other organizations, also condemned the harassment and reprisals directed at the journalist and his family.
IAPA leaders recalled that the use of state mechanisms to pressure, intimidate, or punish journalists for their investigative work violates fundamental principles of freedom of expression and contravenes international human rights standards.
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.