Edition of October 31, 2026
Rebel Bites
Theresa Ejiro EfiakpovworeBukele denies that El Salvador's mission in Haiti bombed civilians, as the NGO UNA-Haiti alleged
President Nayib Bukele rejected on X an accusation by the United Nations Association Haiti (UNA-Haiti), which in a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres accused Salvadoran troops of air strikes and helicopter gunship attacks on civilian neighborhoods since October 22. Bukele said the mission has no bombs, that its attack helicopters only arrived in Haiti on October 29, one day after the date of the letter, and that as of this Saturday they have not flown a single mission. In his own words: "These NGOs lie with impunity, while wielding enormous influence over international organizations." The letter, signed by UNA-Haiti's founder, asks the UN to investigate alleged civilian deaths, according to Diario El Mundo.
Salvadoran soldiers carry out their first patrols in Port-au-Prince and set up a base in Tabarre
Salvadoran soldiers deployed in Haiti carried out their first patrols in Port-au-Prince on Friday, October 30, according to the EFE news agency as cited by El Diario de Hoy and Infobae. They drove through Tabarre and the area around Toussaint Louverture International Airport in trucks and armored vehicles, supported by helicopters. According to local Haitian media cited by EFE, the troops set up a base in Tabarre, near the U.S. embassy. The operation is searching for four Salvadoran soldiers missing since an ambush on October 18; as of Friday's report, their whereabouts were unknown.
Propane prices for November: the 35-pound cylinder costs $15.50 with the general subsidy
The General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons and Mines published liquefied petroleum gas prices for November 2026, according to Diario La Página and Diario La Huella. With the general subsidy, the 35-pound cylinder costs $15.50, the 25-pound $11.13, the 20-pound $8.98 and the 10-pound $4.61. With the targeted subsidy, prices are $7.46, $3.09 and $0.94 for the 35-, 25- and 20-pound cylinders, and the 10-pound cylinder is free. The agency said it will monitor prices, weight and cylinder safety, and takes complaints at 2234-6180.
Magnitude 4.0 earthquake off the coast of Guatemala, according to MARN
The Ministry of Environment (MARN) reported an earthquake on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31 off the coast of Guatemala, according to the Presidential Press Secretariat. The first report gave a preliminary magnitude of 3.8. According to MARN's revised data, the quake measured 4.0, 73 km west of Barra de Santiago, at a depth of 45 km. The official posts do not mention any damage.
Police report one homicide on Friday, October 30 and say the person responsible has been caught
According to the National Civil Police (PNC), Friday, October 30 ended with 1 homicide in the country. The PNC added on X that the person responsible has already been caught, without giving further details about the case. The report ends the run of eight straight days with zero homicides that the PNC had reported from October 22 to 29. The figure is the PNC's own.
Bukele meets U.S. Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers to discuss security and technology
President Nayib Bukele met on Friday, October 30 with Sarah B. Rogers, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. According to Rogers herself on X, they discussed cooperation on security, technology adoption and cultural preservation, and she praised the Salvadoran government's security policies. Her schedule included a walk through San Salvador's historic downtown. El Diario de Hoy notes that the posts about the meeting did not detail any new agreements, investments or specific projects. According to Infobae, the visit is part of a tour of Panama, El Salvador, Mexico and Florida between October 26 and November 4.
Keiko Fujimori wants to build two mega-prisons in Peru as fast as El Salvador built CECOT
Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, said during her official visit to El Salvador that her government plans to build two large prisons and hopes to do so in seven months, the time she said it took to build CECOT. According to Diario El Mundo, which runs an EFE report, she said the timeline will depend on political will and budgets. She also mentioned six prisons already underway in Peru that her government wants to finish. Infobae reports that, after touring CECOT, she said the visit will inspire them to replicate those prisons and initiatives such as the Cero Ocio (Zero Idleness) program.
Former Soyapango mayor Nercy Montano sentenced to five years in prison over arbitrary firings
San Salvador's Fifth Sentencing Court sentenced former Soyapango mayor Nercy Patricia Montano to five years in prison for arbitrary acts and continued disobedience. According to the trial, during her term, from May 1, 2021 until her removal in December 2022, she fired four employees without following the Municipal Administrative Career Law. She also ignored labor court orders to reinstate them and pay the wages and benefits they had lost. Prosecutors argued she knew the legal procedures and decided the firings unilaterally.
Barrio 18 gang members who operated in Tecoluca get 25 to 30 years, prosecutors say
According to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), members of the Barrio 18 Revolucionarios gang were sentenced to 25 to 30 years in prison for illicit association. The FGR says the group intimidated residents of the Tecoluca district, in San Vicente, and surrounding areas between 2012 and 2022. The sentences were handed down by San Salvador's Third Court against Organized Crime. Those convicted were arrested under the state of exception and, according to the FGR, also face other cases. The number of people convicted was not reported.
René Ayala elected president of El Salvador's top football league for 2026-2030
René José Ayala González was elected on Friday, October 30 as president of El Salvador's Primera División football league for 2026-2030. His slate, the only one registered, received all seven votes of the representatives present at the assembly, held at the headquarters of FESFUT, the Salvadoran Football Federation. Katherine Ortiz takes the vice presidency, and César García, Óscar Rivera and Mauricio Villacorta complete the board. Ayala said his term will aim to bring together the league's 12 teams.
Streamer Komanche's remains did not arrive Friday; his farewell moves to Saturday
The remains of Carlos José Rivera Alfaro, the Salvadoran content creator known as Komanche, did not arrive in El Salvador on Friday, October 30 as planned, because of problems related to the airline. According to people close to him, the farewell will take place this Saturday, October 31. According to Infobae, Komanche died on October 25 in Monterrey, Mexico, and the farewell will be held in his hometown of San Sebastián, San Vicente. As of Friday night, no new arrival time had been confirmed.
PNC: Shows its Special Forces patrolling wooded areas of Jiquilisco, Usulután Oeste, as part of the Territorial Control Plan
The PNC shows its Special Forces patrolling wooded areas of Jiquilisco, Usulután Oeste, as part of the Territorial Control Plan.
Press Secretariat: The Vice Ministry of Transport's service offices and Sertracen branches will close on Monday, November 2 for the national holiday and reopen on Tuesday, November 3
The Vice Ministry of Transport's service offices and Sertracen branches will close on Monday, November 2 for the national holiday and reopen on Tuesday, November 3.
PNC: It has officers deployed at tourist destinations over the weekend
The PNC says it has officers deployed at tourist destinations over the weekend.
PNC: Welcomes tourists at the Las Chinamas border crossing in Ahuachapán Centro for the weekend
The PNC welcomes tourists at the Las Chinamas border crossing in Ahuachapán Centro for the weekend.
Press Secretariat: The open-air cinemas on Bulevar Monseñor Romero and in the Nuevo Cuscatlán park are showing a Halloween special from 4:00 p.m
The open-air cinemas on Bulevar Monseñor Romero and in the Nuevo Cuscatlán park are showing a Halloween special from 4:00 p.m. this Saturday.
Press Secretariat: The Press Secretariat relays Bukele's response to UNA-Haiti: he says the Salvadoran mission has no bombs and accuses NGOs of lying
The Press Secretariat relays Bukele's response to UNA-Haiti: he says the Salvadoran mission has no bombs and accuses NGOs of lying.
PNC: Officers from the PNC's Environment Division take part in a sea turtle release on Barra de Santiago beach, Jujutla
Officers from the PNC's Environment Division take part in a sea turtle release on Barra de Santiago beach, Jujutla.
Bukele: Denies, in English, that the Haiti mission bombed civilians: he says it has no bombs and its attack helicopters arrived on October 29 and have not flown
Bukele denies, in English, that the Haiti mission bombed civilians: he says it has no bombs and its attack helicopters arrived on October 29 and have not flown.
PNC: Keeps traffic checks in Ahuachapán Sur and Usulután Este to prevent crashes
The PNC keeps traffic checks in Ahuachapán Sur and Usulután Este to prevent crashes.
Press Secretariat: MARN's revised data: magnitude 4.0 quake off Guatemala, 73 km west of Barra de Santiago, 45 km deep
MARN's revised data: magnitude 4.0 quake off Guatemala, 73 km west of Barra de Santiago, 45 km deep.
PNC: Shows tourists on Cerro El Pital, San Ignacio, with officers providing security
The PNC shows tourists on Cerro El Pital, San Ignacio, with officers providing security.
Press Secretariat: MARN's first notice: quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8 off the coast of Guatemala (later revised to 4.0)
MARN's first notice: quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8 off the coast of Guatemala (later revised to 4.0).
Press Secretariat: The Altos de la Cueva recreation park in San Miguel closes from November 1 for renovation
The Altos de la Cueva recreation park in San Miguel closes from November 1 for renovation.
Press Secretariat: The Press Secretariat highlights the arrival of Guatemalan tourists for the long holiday weekend starting this Saturday
The Press Secretariat highlights the arrival of Guatemalan tourists for the long holiday weekend starting this Saturday.
PNC: The Tourism Police are providing security at the ALAS Global Tour Costa del Sol 2026 surf contest in La Paz
The Tourism Police are providing security at the ALAS Global Tour Costa del Sol 2026 surf contest in La Paz.
PNC: Shows operations in La Paz Centro, Santa Ana Este and Ahuachapán Centro
The PNC shows operations in La Paz Centro, Santa Ana Este and Ahuachapán Centro.
PNC: Friday, October 30 ended with one homicide in the country and that the person responsible has been caught
The PNC reports that Friday, October 30 ended with one homicide in the country and that the person responsible has been caught.
PNC: It is patrolling the patron saint festivities in San Carlos, Morazán Sur, where families are enjoying the rodeo and food
The PNC says it is patrolling the patron saint festivities in San Carlos, Morazán Sur, where families are enjoying the rodeo and food.
Press Secretariat: Shares the November schedule of ISTU's Buses Alegres tourist bus service to destinations around the country
The press office shares the November schedule of ISTU's Buses Alegres tourist bus service to destinations around the country.
Press Secretariat: Reminds people whose DUI (national ID) expires between November 29, 2026 and February 28, 2027 that they can renew it for free until November 28
The press office reminds people whose DUI (national ID) expires between November 29, 2026 and February 28, 2027 that they can renew it for free until November 28.
Press Secretariat: ANDA, the national water utility, officially renewed the accreditation of its Central Water Quality Laboratory
According to the press office, ANDA, the national water utility, officially renewed the accreditation of its Central Water Quality Laboratory.
Bukele: Reposts a message in English from U.S
Bukele reposts a message in English from U.S. activist Robby Starbuck praising his love for El Salvador.
PNC: Shows tourists at the Port of La Libertad on Friday night and credits its Tourism Police for the calm
The PNC shows tourists at the Port of La Libertad on Friday night and credits its Tourism Police for the calm.
Press Secretariat: Sums up in a video the bilateral meeting between Keiko Fujimori and Nayib Bukele, presenting it as a sign of the friendship between the two countries
The press office sums up in a video the bilateral meeting between Keiko Fujimori and Nayib Bukele, presenting it as a sign of the friendship between the two countries.
Press Secretariat: Keiko Fujimori praised Doctor SV, the Salvadoran government's telemedicine system that uses artificial intelligence
According to the press office, Keiko Fujimori praised Doctor SV, the Salvadoran government's telemedicine system that uses artificial intelligence.