He had been missing since the Friday before the election, the deputy for the department, Reynaldo Cardoza, is calling for speedy justice and for it to be ruled out that it is a political crime.
The candidate for mayor of Nova Trinidad in Chalatenango, by the PCN party, Concepción Varela, who was found dead today, had been missing since Friday, February 26, two days before the municipal and legislative elections.
Reynaldo Cardoza, deputy for the PCN in the department of Chalatenango states that even on Thursday they summoned the candidates to give them the credentials, money for payment, for food and vests that the guards would wear on February 28, of the election, Varela no longer heeded the call.
“I sent for him on Saturday (February 26) and the family just said he had left but they didn’t even tell him where he was walking,” Cardoza relates.
You can read: US, UN and political parties condemn murder of FMLN militants
Varela had a year to belong to the party, according to the deputy, and was very motivated with the community.
The candidate no longer ran to withdraw credentials and vests on Friday, Feb. 26, prior to the election.
“Every time we said it at a meeting, he was always on the lookout, he walked from house to house delivering groceries,” the MP stressed.
The family of the candidate, who was engaged in agricultural work, was calm in the face of the disappearance, stating that it was common for him to leave without saying where he was going.
“I went to look for him with another gentleman and the only thing they told us was that he was not in the house,” said MP’s security agent Enric Zelaya.
Varela who was found today already in a state of decomposition was apparently hanged, but it is not confirmed whether it was a suicide or homicide.
Deputy Cardoza is calling for speedy justice for the case, for the authorities to get to the bottom of the matter and for it to be ruled out that it is a “political crime”.
Read also: “For thief.” Financial company collector killers leave note on his corpse
“He had everything organized already, the people who were going to be at the table, the JEM (Municipal Electoral Board),” said the parliamentarian.
The decomposing body of Concepción Varela was found yesterday, Friday 5 March, between the El Lloc and Manaquil farmhouses.
Varela, who is described by the villagers as a humble, responsible young man, had received death threats, according to his relatives.
Varela’s body was recognized by his relatives for clothing, and objects, found at the site, as it was in an advanced state of decomposition. Authorities have begun investigations.