UDI Councilor from Isla de Maipo Calls for Audit of Emergency Aid for Colleague Who Lost Home in Fire: Report Finds No Irregularities

Original article: Concejal UDI de Isla de Maipo pidió a Contraloría fiscalizar ayuda gestionada para colega que perdió casa en incendio: Informe descartó irregularidades

The actions of Miguel Olave, UDI councilor from Isla de Maipo, have sparked multiple questions following his demand for an audit of the social aid provided to his fellow councilor, Jorge Alfaro (Frente Amplio), who lost his home in a fire on July 14, 2025.

Recently, the oversight agency issued a report dismissing any allegations of irregularities. Specifically, Olave requested a review of the procedures involved in securing emergency housing for councilor Alfaro, raising concerns about the actions of the Presidential Delegation of Talagante, Senapred, and the Isla de Maipo municipality, while questioning the «principle of probity.»

However, in the October 2026 ruling No. D441, the Oversight Agency concluded that the involved organizations acted within their jurisdictions and followed the emergency procedures correctly, finding no irregularities.

The agency also clarified that there is no regulation preventing a public official from receiving social benefits due to an emergency situation merely because they hold public office.

Moreover, it confirmed that there was no evidence the councilor misused his position to obtain benefits improperly or that he influenced his own allocation. In fact, it was reported that Senapred issued a purchase order for emergency housing, which was canceled when councilor Alfaro declined the benefit.

“One Should Not Play with the Pain of Others”

In statements to El Ciudadano, councilor Jorge Alfaro expressed that the oversight resolution «supports what we have said from the beginning: we committed no irregularity. We acted without ill intent, trusting that the municipality and various departments would handle their processes as intended.”

The councilor criticized his UDI counterpart’s stance.

«I think justifying this denunciation under the guise of oversight authority hides something much more serious. In my view, there is a lack of empathy, evident political intent, and a misunderstanding of how institutions work, because this is not just about putting a councilor in jeopardy; it affects the municipality, the Presidential Delegation, Senapred, and the institutions that performed their duties,» Alfaro asserted.

For the councilor, «there is political intent behind this, and I say this because we lost everything in a fire; we have a 5-month-old baby and a 6-year-old girl whom we barely managed to rescue from the flames. Yet my colleague opted to prioritize political gain over our dignity and that of the institutions as well.»

«I hope that with the same courage, conviction, and strength with which they pointed fingers at us, they are now capable of apologizing,» added the Frente Amplio councilor, reflecting, «One cannot criticize the actions without losing sight of the people involved.»

«Political affiliations should not make enemies out of us; there needs to be a limit in politics, especially in towns like ours, which must prioritize humanity. One should not play with the pain of others (…) much less try to gain political advantage,» he emphasized.