Once a peaceful paradise famed as the gateway to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is now drawing the global spotlight for a very different reason, as it wrestles with a surge in violent crime. Three politicians have been assassinated there within the last month, with the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio shocking the world. But this violent uptick isn’t limited to Ecuador. Drug cartels have long fueled brutality in nearby Mexico, while the bloodshed is now spread all the way south, impacting countries like Chile and Argentina. In an exclusive interview, Rafael Romo sat down with the former running mate of Ecuador’s murdered presidential candidate. She told him how her life has been since that moment, and why she fears for the future of her country. Also on today's show: Former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda; musician Jon Batiste To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy