The plight of Javier Marañón, a native of Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo held in Equatorial Guinea, has pushed his mother, Carmen Motero, to her breaking point. The 83-year-old woman has stated her decision to stop taking her medication and commence a hunger strike until her son is freed.

In a letter sent to the media, Carmen Motero's children detail the profound impact this situation has had on the family, especially on their matriarch. The letter emphasizes that Javier and his colleague, David Rodríguez, have been held against their will since January 22, 2025, despite their alleged innocence.

The letter also reveals the deterioration of Carmen Motero's health, as she has undergone several surgical procedures in the past year. Her children describe her current state: “she can't take it anymore, she can barely walk, her feeling of helplessness is brutal and keeps her from sleeping, she barely eats or speaks.”

Despite numerous international efforts, including a unanimous declaration by the European Parliament in October 2025, the family laments the lack of effective intervention from authorities. They have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Spanish Prime Minister, the Royal House, the UN, and even the Pope, but their efforts have yielded no significant results.

The family has issued an ultimatum: if no significant progress is made in the case within the next week, Carmen Motero will begin her indefinite hunger strike on April 22. Carmen herself has expressed her extreme determination, stating that she “prefers to die” if it helps secure the release of her son and his colleague.

Javier and David were detained in connection with an alleged corruption investigation linked to a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project in the African country. Both Spanish citizens deny any involvement in the alleged scheme under investigation.