Ruth Eleonora López Alfaro, has been arrested by Salvadoran authorities on charges of embezzlement. The Attorney General’s Office alleges she participated in the diversion of public funds alongside Eugenio Chicas, former magistrate of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and former Secretary of Communications in the presidency.
López, once positioned as a key figure in the fight against corruption through her role at the human rights organization Cristosal, was previously a close advisor to Chicas. According to prosecutors, she held this role during his time at the TSE and continued to support him during his tenure in the executive branch under President Salvador Sánchez Cerén.
“Ruth López was the trusted advisor and right hand of Eugenio Chicas during his two terms at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, including his presidency of the institution,” stated the Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities say López maintained her close relationship with Chicas even while serving as an advisor to the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS), raising serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and undermining Cristosal’s public image.
“During these periods, Ruth López collaborated in the embezzlement of State funds. Investigations and evidence collected during raids in the case of Eugenio Chicas confirm her active role in the criminal scheme,” prosecutors said.
The case has sparked criticism and public concern, particularly given López’s prominent position at Cristosal, an organization known for its advocacy of transparency and justice. Her arrest casts doubt on the integrity of the institution’s leadership and its ability to independently investigate corruption.
Meanwhile, authorities also revealed that Eugenio Chicas will be formally notified of an additional embezzlement charge. He is already being held in a detention center following a February 2025 ruling by the First Justice of the Peace Court of San Salvador, related to an ongoing case of illicit enrichment.