A disinformation network linked to the government of Santiago Peña, operated by the digital agency Comunik, led by Juan "Jimmy" Villaverde and Fabio Morales, moved around half a million dollars through fake news pages and digital influencers to spread pro-government content, promote government policies, and attack opponents.
Juan Roberto Villaverde Emategui
Pytagua coverage mentioning Juan Roberto Villaverde Emategui.
MITIC confirmed having reported only two of at least 14 social media accounts linked to the "dirty campaign" against opponents, journalists, and media outlets critical of the Santiago Peña government, a response lawmakers investigating the case deemed insufficient.
Forensic metadata analysis shows that Juan 'Jimmy' Villaverde, linked to the attack page Sucia Política, was photographed on June 26, 2025, with the same equipment and in the same sequence as other members of the government's communications team, contradicting the official version that he was 'just another activist.'
Dissident Colorado presidential candidate Arnoldo Wiens accused the government of using public funds from binational companies to hire trolls and digital farms to attack critical voices. The statement was made during a rally in Piribebuy, where he also criticized the submission of the judiciary and the Public Ministry to political power.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies approved a request for information from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC) regarding the alleged involvement of the Santiago Peña administration in a dirty campaign network on social media. The request seeks to clarify whether Juan Roberto "Jimmy" Villaverde, whom the president has denied any connection to, held official credentials and whether public funds were used for payments, including through binational entities such as Itaipú and Yacyretá.
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies approved a request for information from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic) and the Presidency to clarify whether state funds were used in a defamation campaign against journalists and media outlets. The request, filed by Deputy Raúl Benítez, focuses on the activities of Juan Roberto Villaverde Emategui and his company Comunik, as well as websites such as Sucia Política and Central Noticias.
President Santiago Peña is accused of denying ties to a digital communicator who received an official credential, while allegations of a smear campaign against government critics grow. The head of Mitic is pressured to resign for allegedly concealing data, and Conmebol president Alejandro Domínguez faces corruption accusations from the United States.
President Santiago Peña acknowledged knowing Juan Roberto 'Jimmy' Villaverde, identified as an operator of a network of pages that attack journalists and opponents, but denied that he works for the government or has an office at Mburuvicha Róga. Public records show Villaverde managed Peña and Alliana's social media during the campaign and held public positions.
Documents obtained show that the Presidency of the Republic of Paraguay issued an official credential to Juan Roberto “Jimmy” Villaverde, identified as responsible for the Sucia Política page and a network of pro-government websites, in July 2025. The revelation contradicts the version of President Santiago Peña and Mitic authorities, who denied any formal link with Villaverde.