He was also appointed Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1986[1] and, from February 2024 until his death, served as a presidential adviser and envoy under President Bernardo Arévalo.

He briefly served as Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1986 before returning to the OAS as his country's permanent representative, a position he held from 1987 to 1988 and then again from 2005 to 2008.

[3] Villagrán de León was also a founding member of the Movimiento Semilla political movement in his home country.

[4] During the 2023 general election and the political crisis that ensued in its wake, Villagrán began to advise Bernardo Arévalo – first, when he was Movimiento Semilla's presidential candidate and, later, as president-elect – in his communications with U.S. politicians to argue his case.

[6] President Arévalo announced the news on social media, describing his friend as "one of the most brilliant diplomats in [Guatemala's] history".