An analysis of metadata from photographs used for badges of the Presidency of the Republic reveals that Juan Roberto “Jimmy” Villaverde Emategui, identified as an operator of the page Sucia Política — dedicated to attacking media outlets and government critics — posed for an institutional photo in the same session and with the same equipment as other members of the Executive's communications staff.
The technical records, extracted with the forensic tool ExifTool, indicate that Villaverde's image was captured on June 26, 2025, at 2:58:03 p.m., with a professional Sony a7 IV (ILCE-7M4) camera and Samyang AF 35mm F1.4 lens. Minutes earlier, the same equipment had been used to photograph presidential photographer Stiven Meza (2:25:36 p.m.), communications assistant Alberto Vargas (2:53:04 p.m.), and driver Hugo Florentín (2:54:02 p.m.). Right after Villaverde, presidential driver Hugo Jiménez was photographed at 3:03:40 p.m.
Villaverde's photo was also edited on the same day, at 3:55:40 p.m., using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software on a Macintosh device, less than an hour after it was taken.
The metadata also shows that on May 12, 2025, another session with the same camera — but with a Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM lens — recorded top communications chiefs, such as Director General of Presidential Information Guillermo Grance, Public Relations Coordinator María Angélica Finestra, and Communications Director Alejandra Viola. A photo of communicator Julio Sardi, captured on July 9, 2025, with the same equipment used for Villaverde, did not later appear among the printed badges.
President Santiago Peña, Minister of Mitic Gustavo Villate, and Deputy Communications Minister Alejandra Duarte continue to deny any link between Villaverde and the government, despite the technical evidence. Peña had previously referred to him as 'just another activist.'