Stories from Guatemala

The Guatemalan Congress has officialized the renaming of the Department of Defense.

Five people were reportedly lynched at Hospital Rúdbel in Guatemala. Volunteer firefighters provided information regarding the incident. The victims were brought to the hospital emergency ramp for medical attention.

Emergency technicians from the 105th, 37th, 3rd, and 2nd companies provided pre-hospital care to five people following a road attack. The victims suffered traumas to various parts of their bodies.

Five people were injured in an attack at kilometer 27.5 of the road leading from Zacapa to San Pedro Zacatepec. Volunteer firefighters from the 105th, 37th, 3rd, and 2nd companies provided pre-hospital care to the victims.

The Economy Commission met on Tuesday morning to discuss amendments to the comprehensive law against money laundering, other assets, and terrorism financing. A final discussion to conclude the law is scheduled for tomorrow. Congress President Luis Contreras stated that the economy and foreign trade commission expects to share amendments for an integral anti-money laundering law with other parliamentarians this Thursday. The move aims to advance the approval of the legislative initiative. No specific details regarding the content of the amendments were provided. The Guatemalan Congress approved decrees 18-2024 and 9-2026 to increase pension payments. The legislation aims to dignify the pensions received by both civilian and military retirees. The decision was made by the tenth legislature of the Congress of the Republic.

Guatemalan National Civil Police arrested two individuals following a robbery targeting a foreign bus on the Ruta al Pacífico. The suspects allegedly used threats and intimidation to steal belongings from passengers on an Esmeralda transport bus. The incident prompted passengers to alert authorities. Police captured a Nicaraguan national and a Guatemalan man with an existing arrest warrant for phone theft on the Palin highway in Escuintla. Authorities seized an illegal firearm used during the robbery. Investigators report the suspects used firearms to intimidate victims and force them to surrender belongings. Authorities are investigating if the detainees belong to a gang specifically dedicated to bus robberies. Security forces have established operations on highways and other arteries to prevent further crimes and identify suspects.

The National Registry of Persons (RENAP) in Guatemala issued a statement denying reports of a system hack or breach. The breach follows reports of vulnerabilities in other national institutions. The source noted that RENAP does not store copies of birth certificates during DPI issuance. The breached data includes tax addresses, chassis numbers, engine numbers, license plates, and electronic property certificates. The Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) issued a statement saying it is monitoring institutional systems according to security protocols and reports no current incidents. Rafael Andíbar University confirmed there is no evidence of sensitive community data access. Security measures have been immediately reinforced, including a review of access configurations, intensive monitoring, and updates to authentication and control protocols.

The Comptroller General of Accounts has taken action against the Public Ministry regarding 24 members of a Superior University Council, including Walter Masariagos. The investigation concerns possible irregularities in contracting processes and the management of funds. The action follows findings by the Comptroller General. The investigation is currently being held under reserve, and no further specific details have been provided by authorities. Authorities in Guatemala are working with a provider to restore systems following an outage. Officials stated the situation is not related to a cybersecurity incident. However, they expressed concern regarding potential data breaches or information leaks. The National Registry of Persons (RANAP) confirmed the capture of a Mexican national in Argentina using falsified Guatemalan documents.

A criminal court in Guatemala has processed nine individuals as part of an operation named Narco Repostería. The group includes two former members of the National Civil Police (PNC) who were captured during the operation. The proceedings took place at the Torre de Tribunales.

Various business chambers in Guatemala issued a statement rejecting road blockades occurring at multiple points across the country today. The Guatemalan Association of Exporters warned that historical blockades have caused economic damage and supply chain interruptions. The association called for dialogue and institutional solutions to address citizen demands without affecting governability. The statement was made in the context of ongoing logistics concerns in the country. Guatemalan exporters have warned that current conditions risk 1 billion pesos in exports, employment, and supplies. The Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala joined the call for authorities to intervene immediately to clear blocked points. Exporters are requesting the restoration of the rule of law to protect the rights of citizens. The disruptions threaten the stability of local supply chains.