Lawyer Murdered Near Prosecutor's Office in Pedernales, Ecuador

A lawyer was murdered on July 6 just meters from the Pedernales Prosecutor's Office in Ecuador's Manabí province. The brazen daylight attack in a busy central area has sent shockwaves through the community, alarming judicial officials, lawyers, and residents.

Cerbanda Puertas, who had her law office next to the Public Ministry building, was reportedly on her way to work when she was ambushed. Preliminary reports indicate she was shot multiple times by several attackers who had been waiting for her, resulting in her immediate death.

The National Police quickly cordoned off the scene to conduct forensic investigations. The motive for the killing remains unknown, and authorities have not yet announced any arrests. This incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating violence in Manabí, a province that has seen numerous homicides. This year alone, other legal professionals, including lawyers and prosecutors, have been targeted and killed in the region, raising serious concerns about safety and the rule of law.