In Resistencia, Chaco province, Argentina, the trial for the femicide of Cecilia Strzyzowski is underway. The legal process is combined with an inevitable political backdrop: the Sena family built a sustained territorial power over the years, bolstered by millionaire state subsidies granted during the administrations of Governor Jorge Capitanich, with whom they maintained a close and public political and personal relationship. The hearing in Resistencia made it clear that the case not only implicates the accused criminally but also exposes the network of links between territorial power, public funds, and the clan's social ascent. If found guilty, the penalties could include life imprisonment. While the Sena family reiterates its innocence, Chacoan society is closely following a case that already goes beyond the judicial: it represents the public downfall of a political web that shaped the social life of vast vulnerable sectors for years and whose territorial weight was decisive during the administrations of former Governor Capitanich. The prosecution emphasized in its closing argument that the Sena clan's power structure would not have been possible without the political and financial support received during the former governor's provincial administrations. The trial has advanced with high social and media impact, fueled by the profile of the accused, who are widely known in the province for their role as social leaders historically aligned with local Peronism. Although these funds were formally destined for social programs, investigators argue they functioned as a key gear to strengthen the clan's territorial apparatus, whose influence grew in parallel with the power of then-Governor Capitanich. The murder of Cecilia, who disappeared in June 2023 and whose body has never been found, exposed nationally the internal workings of a consolidated political-territorial scheme. Emerenciano Sena, in contrast, attempted to emphasize his historical social role in Chaco, thanked the jury, and insisted that the family is a victim of a 'media and political persecution.' With the verdict imminent, the jury will not only define the situation of the accused but also send a message about the limits of collusion between political power, public funds, and territorial networks in the province. César Sena, the principal accused in the murder, once again refused to testify. The political dimension of the case cannot be overlooked. Capitanich, then governor of Chaco, was even the best man at the couple's wedding, a gesture that sealed a political alliance that lasted for more than a decade. Marcela Acuña assured the jury that she never participated in a plan against Cecilia and that the young woman had been invited to the family home 'without any harmful intention.' The prosecutors maintain that the femicide occurred inside the family home and that a plan was subsequently executed to eliminate traces and obstruct the investigation. Sena and Acuña led cooperatives, foundations, and neighborhood organizations for years that received hundreds of millions of pesos in official subsidies, a flow that allowed them to consolidate mobilization capacity and political presence. Official documents from the Institute of Family Agriculture and Popular Economy reveal that, in 2023 alone, the structure commanded by the Senas received over 141 million pesos in subsidies from the provincial state. With 86 testimonies incorporated, extensive evidence collection, and a jury under strict security measures, the process entered its decisive stage. Resistencia, November 14, 2025 – Total News Agency-TNA – In the final stretch of the trial for the femicide of Cecilia Strzyzowski, Emerenciano Sena and Marcela Acuña used their final words before the popular jury to reaffirm their innocence, while their son César once again opted for silence. His statement was brief, with a tone that sought to convey serenity.
