The Taxi Driver Allegedly Involved in the Journalist Rolando Rodríguez Case Has Been Captured.  

Early Saturday morning, the National Police announced the capture of a man allegedly involved in the bomb attack on the residence of journalist Rolando Rodríguez associate deputy director of La Prensa.

A $2000 reward was offered for information on the whereabouts of Luis Adriel Valiente Ortega, the “prime suspect” in the attack on Rodríguez’s home. Four hours after his photo had been released, Ortega was captured in San Miquelito.

Using surveillance footage, the National Police and Public Ministry identified the taxi and arrested suspect Luis Adriel Valiente Ortega, who had rented the vehicle. Authorities continue searching for other accomplices. Ortega is originally from Colón, and has been linked to other crimes such as armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Rolando Rodríguez has spent decades uncovering high-level corruption in Panama, including major reporting on the Odebrecht bribery scandal and undeclared political campaign donations. He won the Fórum de Periodistas award for Best Investigative Journalism in 2024. In March 2026, he also received special recognition at the IX CELAC-EU Congress of Media Editors for his investigative reporting and the personal risks faced by him and his family.