An Emotional Posthumous Tribute to Héctor Sambrano, Councilman of the Barrio Colón District in La Chorrera
This Saturday, July 11, the funeral rites wereheld for the representative of the corregimiento of Barrio Colón (district of La Chorrera), Héctor Sambrano. Sambrano’s ashes were bid farewell by dozens of people, amidst tribute events, beginning with a ceremony in Plaza 28 de Noviembre and followed by a walk marked by drumming, traditional dances and attendees dressed in white, family members, local authorities and councilors, and friends, until reaching the San Francisco de Paula church, where the final farewell mass was held.
The politician, a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, was found dead on the morning of Friday, July 3, in his apartment, located in a residential building in Carrasquilla, San Francisco district, Panama City. Investigations determined that the official was murdered and died from mechanical asphyxiation. Judicial authorities are continuing their investigation to find those responsible for this homicide.
Héctor Sambrano, the representative for Barrio Colón in La Chorrera and former deputy director of IFARHU, was found dead inside his apartment in the Carrasquilla area of Panama City on July 3, 2026. Panamanian authorities are investigating his death as a homicide after forensic examinations revealed he died by asfiyxia (suffocation) and the crime scene showed signs of a struggle. The investigation is actively ongoing with the following key developments:
- The Crime Scene: His body was discovered by a relative inside his apartment, with reports indicating signs of a struggle.
- Vehicle Discovery: His gray Nissan Frontier pickup truck was located several miles away in the Cerro Cocobolo area of San Miguelito, prompting further forensic investigation by authorities.
- Prior Circumstances: At the time of his death, Sambrano was involved in an ongoing judicial investigation linked to alleged corruption and irregularities concerning IFARHU scholarships.
