Edison José Torres Fernández, a 52-year-old Portuguese State Police official, died in custody at PNB Zone 7 on January 10, 2026, 62 hours after the Venezuelan regime's official announcement of political prisoner releases, according to the Committee of Relatives for the Freedom of Political Prisoners (CLIPP) in an X post during the 29-minute period ending at 5:15 a.m. UTC on January 11. Torres Fernández, arrested on December 9, 2025, for sharing critical messages against the regime and Guanare state governor and unofficially charged with treason and criminal association, received no official information on the circumstances or causes of his death or medical care provided, per the CLIPP statement at https://x.com/clippve/status/2010207711133040859. CLIPP demanded an immediate independent investigation and release of all political prisoners. Relatives of over 100 political prisoners mobilized to detention centers including El Rodeo I since the release announcement, enduring harsh outdoor conditions while awaiting news amid regime opacity, as reported by @RHelicoide in an X post at https://x.com/RHelicoide/status/2010184002884218949 during the reporting window. These developments follow prior reports this morning of relatives' vigils at El Rodeo I and El Helicoide prisons demanding releases, accusations of spoiled food causing illnesses among prisoners there without treatment, and U.S. Rep. Carlos warning regime henchmen of consequences for blocking releases, according to earlier X posts by @MundarayZair, #AlertaNoMordaza, and @RepCarlos.
