The revival of the entertainment world took place strongly this year. Most of the Peruvian artists managed to resume their artistic activities. However, the collection of quotas by organized gangs has also increased and more and more celebrities have seen their security affected.
Last Sunday, August 28, the members of the Agua Marina group suffered moments of terror in the city of Trujillo when unknown assailants detonated a strong explosive at the back of the stage where they were offering a concert, as part of celebrations for their 46 years of experience.
Although the first reports indicated that it was an alleged attack, Jose Quiroga Querevalu, the director of Agua Marina, believes that the attack was aimed at preventing the concert from taking place, so the incident was denounced. Meanwhile, the authorities do not rule out that it would be an extortion.
Not everything was there. The next day, on the morning of Monday, August 29, the members of Agua Marina suffered the theft of their belongings by 12 criminals armed with firearms, when they were inside the orchestra bus, on the Bayóvar section, on the highway that diverts the Panamericana towards Sechura.
Group 5 and Harmony 10
In addition to Agua Marina, two other important cumbia groups were also victims of extortion. Who came out to talk about the subject was Elmer Yaipén, one of the leaders of Group 5. The northerner assured that he received death threats from the dangerous extortionist José Luis Torres Saavedra, known as ‘El Burro’, an inmate of the Challapalca prison ( Fist). He sent him text messages to give him a “financial collaboration”.
Elmer Yaipén also revealed that the late Walther Lozada Floriano received threats when he was director of Armonía 10. According to Harry Gordillo, correspondent for Correo Chiclayo, the Piurano had to change his address for his safety and that of his family, as they demanded large sums of money from him. money.
Brunella Torpoco
One of the most notorious cases of extortion had Brunella Torpoco as the protagonist, who a few months ago decided to withdraw from the stage after denouncing being a victim of extortion for collection of quotas. As is remembered of her, the criminals attacked her twice: at the door of her home and against her car in Callao.
On that occasion, his colleagues Daniela Darcourt, Tony Rosado, Paula Arias and Toño Centella did not hesitate to send him messages of support. Given this, the sauce boat decided to return to the stage. “My audience asks me and I will return for them and because I breathe music through my veins. I have performed on several stages outside our borders, but my land is my land,” said the interpreter of “Honda” in a statement.
Leonard León asked to denounce
At the beginning of the year, the cumbia singer Leonard León revealed that he had to present his complaint to the Dirincri de San Miguel because he was being extorted with a large sum of money to leave him alone. “I have been receiving messages to my personal number for three days. I don’t know how they managed it, but I am receiving threats and they tell me that they know my movements. They are threatening my family, directly to Olenka. They mention their parents and they know the car in which I travel, because they have the license plate,” the cumbiambero explained to La República.
León took the opportunity to recommend his fans to report this type of crime. “This cannot happen, because we are experiencing insecurity and we have to denounce these types of events. Many will think that artists have money, that’s why they make us these kinds of threats, and what they don’t know is that we are not working 100% and we are fighting it little by little, even more so with the restrictions due to the pandemic,” he said. Former member of Group 5.
Yarita Lizeth
Puno singer Yarita Lizeth, who is in the best moment of her career, has also been a victim of extortion. A few years ago, the popular folk artist assured that unknown subjects called her to ask for large amounts of money in exchange for not attempting on her life. “Calls have become a habit, I have them recorded, usually they call my brother and tell him ‘You have to give me money, if not we’re going to take your sister down’ and ugly things. At first we were afraid, but now we are hardened. I already made the complaints, anything that happened to me, everything is there,” Yarita told Radio Karibeña.
Cielo Torres: “I was afraid for my family”
The Peruvian singer Cielo Torres revealed that she was also a victim of extortion, but she was not frightened. “Many of the artists, including myself, have received strange calls that have scared my team, which has alerted us. But we talked and made a decision. The best thing was to continue working calmly, without harming anyone and taking security measures, such as blocking calls and changing numbers,” the host of “Fiesta Sundays” told La República.
“Obviously, human beings are going to feel fear when they feel threatened, (fear) by my family, by my work, by the people who work with me. It was very important to receive the support of my team and to be able to make the decision to continue. That’s the best thing, not giving crime the pleasure that it can achieve its mission, “concluded the interpreter of” Nothing is enough “.
Toño Centella: “It is a terrible terror”
Toño Centella said that he has also been intimidated by unknown criminals. “I was extorted twice. They put a grenade in the tire of my car. They put bullets in me again. It’s a terrible terror,” said the chicha singer for the “America Today” program. According to Antonio Domínguez Vásquez, who has decided to participate in the 2022 municipal elections, “criminals are well aware of all the movements of the artists, about who is earning money.” In this way, the criminal gangs would organize themselves to collect quotas and intimidate their victims.
Giovanni Kral: “I fear for my life”
A few months ago, salsa singer Giovanni Kral suffered an attack on his vehicle, which received several bullet wounds after he finished a presentation in the district of San Martín de Porres. “I fear for my life, this car is in the name of the mother of my children and in my name, it is the car of my children; So, I’m worried because they know the car,” said the artist in an interview for “America Noticias.”
The former member of the Skándalo group assured that there is a mafia in music, but clarified that he will not leave his career or the stage. “I’m worried. I felt safe because I was Chalaco, because Callao is my land and I thought they would support me, but you never know. I have heard about quotas, about problems with other orchestras and it is surprising. Unfortunately, there are mafias and that is worrying; However, I plan to continue working because I live from this, “he said for Trome.
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