Guatemalan congressman Julio Portillo survives an armed attack that leaves three dead in Río Hondo

The armed attack in Río Hondo left three dead and Congressman Julio Portillo survived the incident. (Social Media) Congressman Julio Portillo survived an armed attack that left three dead on the night of Friday, November 6, in front of the headquarters of the National Civil Police in Río Hondo, Zacapa. The legislator, who represents the department in the Congress of the Republic, was transferred to a medical facility for examination, while authorities investigate an attack whose motive has not yet been determined. The shooting occurred at kilometer 137 of the highway to the Atlantic, when armed men shot at the vehicle in which Portillo and his entourage were traveling. Two agents of the National Civil Police who were traveling on motorcycles died during the attack. The third fatality was Fernando Reyes Aldana, a member of the legislator's personal security team. Two other people guarding Portillo were not injured, according to initial information about the incident. The armed attack in Río Hondo left three dead and Congressman Julio Portillo survived the incident. (Image taken from Noticias Con Carlos León) The front windshield of the vehicle transporting the congressman received several projectile impacts. Shards reached Portillo, although they did not cause bullet wounds. Numerous shell casings from high-powered weapons and several rifle magazines were left at the scene. There was also the presumption that the vehicles in the entourage had armor plating, but authorities had not confirmed that detail. A spokesman for the Río Hondo Municipal Departmental Firefighters indicated that one of the bodyguards remained in serious condition before being transferred. Personnel from unit RD 154 took the congressman to a facility of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute, whose location was kept confidential for security reasons. The same medical facility received one of the wounded bodyguards under custody. Volunteer firefighters from the municipalities of San Juan and Zacapa participated in the support operation, although they arrived after the congressman had already been evacuated. Agents of the Specialized Division in Criminal Investigation and prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor's Office went to the scene to collect evidence and reconstruct the sequence of the attack. The investigation includes reviewing footage from surveillance cameras installed in the area. No arrests related to the case had been reported, nor had it been established whether the attackers were specifically targeting the congressman. Investigators are also analyzing other hypotheses to explain the attack in front of a police facility located in an area of frequent traffic in the municipality. The armed attack in Río Hondo left three dead and Congressman Julio Portillo survived the incident. (Image taken from Noticias Con Carlos León) The attack occurred while Portillo is engaged in a public dispute with Congresswoman Carolina Orellana, also a representative of Zacapa, but a member of the Cabal bloc. In May, Orellana filed a criminal complaint against her colleague for violence against women in its manifestation of psychological harassment. Following that complaint, a court granted precautionary measures in favor of the legislator and her family. Among them is a restraining order against Portillo. An armed attack against Congressman Julio Portillo left three people dead on the afternoon of Friday, November 6, in Río Hondo, department of Zacapa, in front of the local headquarters of the National Civil Police (PNC). The incident occurred at kilometer 137 of the highway to the Atlantic, when armed men shot at the vehicle in which the legislator and his entourage were traveling. (Courtesy video) The dispute between the two dates back to January 2026, when they had an altercation during a meeting of the Zacapa Departmental Development Council. That episode led to mutual accusations of threats and the first complaint filed by Orellana. Since then, the two congressmen have accused each other before the Public Prosecutor's Office of alleged corruption and interference in the administration of the department's social programs. They also filed complaints with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal over an alleged premature electoral campaign. Portillo rejected the accusations and pursued legal action against Orellana. The congressman maintained that the accusation of violence. The armed attack in Río Hondo left three dead and Congressman Julio Portillo survived the incident. (Image taken from Noticias Con Carlos León) Upon learning of the armed attack, the Ministry of the Interior stated that it deeply regrets the death of three agents of the National Civil Police, who lost their lives in the line of duty while repelling a direct attack against Congressman Julio Portillo, perpetrated by unknown individuals at kilometer 137, Río Hondo, Zacapa. The agents responded to the attack in defense of the congressman's life, who is receiving care at a health center. We honor their courage and service, and we express our solidarity with their families and with the police institution. It is up to the Public Prosecutor's Office to direct the investigation to clarify the facts and identify those responsible for this attack.