Cuenca Acting Mayor Files Complaint Over Alleged Payments Extorted from Sports Instructors

On the afternoon of October 27, Cuenca acting mayor Marisol Peñaloza submitted a formal complaint to the Azuay Prosecutor's Office (Fiscalía del Azuay) regarding improper charges solicited from sports activity instructors working for the municipality's Department of Culture, Recreation, and Sports (Dirección de Cultura, Recreación y Deporte).

Peñaloza explained to local newspaper El Mercurio that complaints revealed municipal officials were allegedly demanding payments ranging between $30 and $80 from instructors. The complaint filed with prosecutors also addresses alleged cases of sexual harassment within the department.

Evidence submitted to support the legal action includes WhatsApp chat logs, payment receipts, and witness testimonies.

What This Means for Residents and Expats

Many residents and expats in Cuenca participate in or follow community sports programs, workshops, and recreational activities funded and managed by the municipal government. Legal actions targeting internal corruption directly impact municipal administration and oversight in public programs across the city. As the prosecutor's office investigates these allegations involving municipal sports staff, administrative processes within the culture and sports department may face heightened scrutiny.

Sources: elmercurio.com.ec.

Image: Existing site image, illustrative; not AI-generated.