The newspaper Peru.21 accused Castillo of being linked to Shining Path,[94][95] publishing documents purported to confirm Castillo's relationship with the movement.[94][96] Peru.21 again raised Castillo's alleged links to the MOVADEF due to his participation in virtual meetings with the organization's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru.[95] Hamer Villena Zúñiga, the leader of the United Union of Workers in Education of Peru (SUTEP), subsequently stated that "Pedro Castillo's sister belongs to MOVADEF", referring to María Doraliza Castillo Terrones.[97]