Retired Colonel Ronaldo Encarnación Santovenia, who led the Counterintelligence division of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in Pinar del Río for over a decade, has died at the age of 78.
The announcement of his death did not come from the regime's official channels. Instead, it surfaced through the Facebook profile of Sinecio Díaz Padrón, the municipal president of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC) in Pinar del Río.
The silence from major state-run media outlets like the National Television News (NTV), Granma, and Cubadebate is notable, diverging from the usual practice of announcing the deaths of high-ranking military figures with official statements on television.
Rising Through the Ranks in Cuba's Security Apparatus
Born on October 26, 1947, in Las Martinas, Sandino municipality, Pinar del Río, Encarnación Santovenia grew up in a farming family. He began his career in agriculture before enrolling in the Tobacco Technological Institute "Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda" in 1968.
His entry into the security sector began in 1969 when he was recruited by the Military Counterintelligence branch of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and assigned to the Basic Operative Officers Course. Upon completion, he was tasked with overseeing military units in the region.
Over the next two decades, he progressed through various roles within the FAR, including operative officer, senior operative officer, group chief, and operational section chief.
Leading Provincial Counterintelligence for Over a Decade
In 1993, he transitioned to MININT, where he took on the role of Provincial Head of Counterintelligence for more than 12 years, earning the rank of Colonel for his work achievements.
This period solidified his influence in the intelligence and control operations in Pinar del Río, giving him oversight of surveillance activities on the local population and dissidents.
From 2005 to 2010, he served as the national manager of Supervision and Control at SEPSA, a protection services company under MININT, before retiring that same year.
International Missions and Honors
Encarnación Santovenia participated in international missions in Angola and Ethiopia, and received numerous honors: commemorative medals for the 40th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries of the FAR and MININT; the Cuba-RPA and Cuba-Ethiopia Victory medals; 14 Distinguished Service decorations; the Production and Defense medal; and the 28th of September Distinction from the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution.
In accordance with his wishes, his body was cremated, and his ashes were interred alongside his parents' remains at the Manuel Lazo cemetery in Sandino.
He received a funeral tribute at the provincial funeral home attended by colleagues from the FAR, MININT, as well as friends and family.
A Death Unacknowledged by State Media
The fact that the announcement came from the ACRC's municipal president rather than MININT or any state media highlights the regime's selective public mourning protocols, typically reserved for figures of national stature.
This contrasts with other deaths in 2026. For instance, the passing of Brigadier General William Gálvez Rodríguez on July 17 was announced with a statement on the National Television News.
Similarly, Brigadier General Alcibíades Wilmer Pérez Rivero, former head of the Military Intelligence Directorate of the FAR, who died on July 4, received official acknowledgment.
This year alone has seen the deaths of at least six high-ranking figures from Cuba's military and security structure, including generals José Luis Mesa Delgado and Claro Orlando Almaguel Vidal (in January), Rear Admiral Roberto Eduardo González Luaces (in May), Ramiro Valdés Menéndez — a founding member of MININT — on June 21, General Pérez Rivero on July 4, and General Gálvez Rodríguez on July 17.
Díaz Padrón's post concludes with a phrase that encapsulates the regime's expected loyalty from its leaders: "We will remember him for his fidelity and unconditional support for the Revolution, the FAR, MININT, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, and the Communist Party of Cuba."
Key Questions About the Passing of Ronaldo Encarnación Santovenia
Who was Ronaldo Encarnación Santovenia?
Ronaldo Encarnación Santovenia was a retired Colonel who served as the Head of Counterintelligence for the Ministry of the Interior in Pinar del Río for over 12 years.
How was his death announced?
His death was not reported by official state media but was announced through a Facebook post by Sinecio Díaz Padrón, the municipal president of the ACRC in Pinar del Río.
What roles did he serve in during his career?
Encarnación Santovenia served in various roles, including operative officer, senior operative officer, group chief, and operational section chief within the Revolutionary Armed Forces before leading the provincial Counterintelligence.