The widow of Peruvian cumbia singer Paul Flores Garcia has spoken publicly for the first time since a court in Lima ratified lengthy prison sentences for five men convicted over his murder.
Carolina Jaramillo released a statement on Monday, September 21, 2026, marking what would have been her husband's 42nd birthday, after judges confirmed a 35-year prison sentence for the gunman who shot the musician during an attack on the Armonia 10 tour bus.
Sentence ratified by Lima court
The First Criminal Collective Court of the High Court of Eastern Lima formally confirmed the convictions on September 16, following the initial verdict delivered on September 4. The full reading of the judgment confirmed the strict penalties handed down to the individuals responsible for the fatal assault on March 16, 2025.
The primary gunman, Pierre Angel Panduro Verastegui, known by the alias El Italiano, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being identified as the material author of the shooting. Four co-defendants were also handed substantial prison terms for their involvement in the deadly attack. Angelo Piero Velazquez Moreno, known as El Narizon, and Mariano Altamirano Ramos were each sentenced to 16 years in prison. Jesus Acosta Jaramillo and Jorge Roy Reyes Miranda were both handed 15-year prison sentences.
In addition to the custodial sentences, the judicial panel ordered the five convicted men to pay a joint civil reparation of 379,000 Peruvian soles to the surviving family members of the victim.
Widow breaks silence on singer's birthday
Jaramillo explained that she had deliberately chosen to remain silent on September 16 when the verdict was formally read out by the court. She stated that she wanted to wait until she felt more certain before speaking publicly about the judicial outcome.
Choosing her late husband's birthday to share her thoughts, Jaramillo posted a photograph of Flores from his childhood along with a statement reflecting on the legal process and her family's ongoing grief.
Addressing the legal status of the case, Jaramillo acknowledged that the court confirmation of the sentences represented a major step forward for the family. However, she pointed out that the legal process was not yet entirely concluded, as the defense still retained the option to lodge an appeal against the decision. She expressed her faith in God and her trust that the ruling would remain unchanged.
She also emphasized that no court sentence could make up for the loss suffered by her family. Jaramillo said that earthly prison terms could never return her husband or fill the void left by his death, noting that her family had only ever sought justice through the legal system.
Turning to her personal faith, Jaramillo expressed her belief in divine justice alongside the earthly court system. She said that while earthly proceedings follow their path, she trusts in a higher power that knows the complete truth and will eventually hold everyone accountable. Concluding her message with a personal tribute to her late husband, she said that although the family could no longer embrace him, they would continue to celebrate his life and carry his name in their hearts, sending him birthday wishes in heaven.
Legacy of Paul Flores and Armonia 10
Paul Flores, widely known to fans as El Ruso, was a native of Piura in northwestern Peru and served as a prominent vocalist for Armonia 10. The group, founded in Piura in the 1970s, is recognized as one of the defining institutions of Peruvian cumbia, a popular music genre that fuses traditional tropical rhythms with electric guitars and coastal beats. Armonia 10 has maintained a vast fanbase across South America for decades, making the violent attack on their band bus in March 2025 a major shock to Peru's music industry.
With the full ruling now formally read into the record by the High Court of Eastern Lima, the case moves into the stage where defense lawyers for the convicted men may file formal appeals against their prison sentences.
