Former Los R0edos Regional Official Faces New Evidence in 2025 «Vida en Comunidad» Fund Probe

Following the publication of a report by El Ciudadano that uncovered alleged irregularities in the implementation of the 2025 Vida en Comunidad Fund, overseen by the Los R0edos Regional Government, former public official and ex-head of the Division of Social and Human Development, Eduardo Fagalde2d2dnamed at the center of a complaint filed with Chile’s Office of the Comptroller General2d2dissued a public statement addressing the claims.

«It is true that there is a criminal complaint and a filing before the Office of the Comptroller General that mention my name. Both rely on the same background claims, which lack any real basis,» the statement says.

In seeking to rebut the allegations, Fagalde’s defense centers on the point that the project cited in the complainta02d2dwhich described the alleged modus operandi2d2dultimately did not receive funding from the Regional Government (GORE).a0

«I am being unfairly linked to the project by the group ‘Sof1adores Indestructibles,’ which was not awarded funding, confirming the falsehood and lack of foundation of the accusation against me,» Fagalde says.

However, El Ciudadano‘s report never stated that the project was awarded. It was presented solely as an example to illustrate the pattern of conduct attributed to Fagalde in the complaint and filing before the Comptroller.

Nonetheless, despite the irregularities described in the earlier report, the «Sof1adores Indestructibles» proposal received a score of 5.9 and was rated «Technically Recommended.»

«To date, considering the evidence and the former Pif1era administration official’s own statements, he does not dispute the substance; instead, he portrays himself as a victim in his acknowledged role as a manager, which now harms the credibility of civil society groups that trusted his assistance to obtain GORE funds, as in the Sof1adores Indestructibles case and others.», said an influential local attorney.

«My work has always been as a manager and advisor for social projects, collaborating with various organizations to design initiatives for public funds. I do not serve as a project coordinator nor do I receive fees under that capacity. My communications company provides specific technical services, strictly complying with the rules and delivering the agreed products on time and in full,» Fagalde said in his statement.

Fagalde acknowledges he is a «gestor» (facilitator). According to the RAE, the term refers to a professional who handles private or corporate matters before public offices.

«The issue is not that Fagalde works as a gestor;a0 the concern is that he allegedly manages funding at the same institution where he previously held a leadership post, using price quotes from eyewear companies under the same owner2dHenzi and Veaf3ptica2dand from his own communications firm, doing so repeatedly across projects and taking advantage of the needs of neighborhood councils and social organizations «, sources told El Ciudadano.

BRISAS DE LA RIBERA: A PROJECT THAT WAS AWARDED

The project «Nueva mirada desde la ribera,» submitted by Neighborhood Council No. 96 Brisas de la Ribera2d2dand reportedly evaluated by Los R00s GORE official Zoila Reyes2d2dreceived a score of 6.4, was deemed «Technically Recommended,» and was awarded funding.

Its filing repeats the pattern: price quotes from the same optical businesses under a single owner, along with quotes from companies linked to the former GORE official.

For its part, the Los R00s Regional Government (GORE) said: «The Regional Government will be strict and firm in internal oversight, because adherence to the law and probity are non2dnegotiable principles. If administrative breaches or irregularities are verified, they will be sanctioned with the full severity allowed by law, with no exceptions or leniency.»

The regional government stressed that such actions «are absolutely unacceptable and directly undermine public trust and the integrity of the civil service.»

El Ciudadano