Fernando Cerimedo: Links to La Moneda Grow as «King of Trolls» Ties with Secom Chief Felipe Costabal Surface

Original article: Cerimedo, el “rey de los trolls”, suma otro vínculo con La Moneda: jefe de la Secom también trabajó en comando del Rechazo

The influence of far-right operator Fernando Cerimedo, dubbed the «King of Trolls», who is currently detained in Bolivia facing attempted femicide charges against his ex-partner Nadia Bellerno, has extended beyond the Second Floor of La Moneda and directly into the government’s communications core under José Antonio Kast. The current head of the Communications Secretariat (Secom), Felipe Costabal, known as «Yeti», has now been linked to the already known figures Alejandro Irarrázaval and the resigned Ignacio Dülger.

According to a report by the Investigation Unit of El Mostrador, these connections were established during the so-called «Casa Común», the command center of entrepreneurs opposing the 2020 referendum, based in Vitacura, where Costabal worked alongside the controversial Argentine consultant, an expert in bot farms who was hired to conduct dubious polls.

One of the contentious surveys from his company Numen contradicted all others, predicting a 42.3% for the Approval campaign, which ultimately lost with a crushing 78% against it. Cerimedo justified, «The error was in analyzing and projecting data with mandatory voting and a 100% voter turnout,» ignoring that voting was voluntary and 100% participation was impossible.

Cerimedo and Costabal Collaborated at the «Casa Común»

The connection between the advisor to far-right figures such as Javier Milei in Argentina, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Rodrigo Paz in Bolivia, and Nasry Asfura in Honduras, and the current head of Secom is not coincidental. Internal sources from that campaign indicate it as the direct link facilitating Cerimedo’s arrival in Chile. A source from the organization led by former deputy Gonzalo de la Carrera indicated it is «most likely» that Felipe «Yeti» Costabal was the one who brought Cerimedo to Casa Común. By then, the Argentine had already established his reputation as an operator, influencing electoral processes across Latin America using fake accounts, bots, and trolls to support far-right candidates.

Cerimedo arrived in Chile to offer services that critics argue were nothing more than political operations using «fake» surveys, such as the one that incorrectly predicted a narrow victory for the «approval» campaign, which ended in a devastating loss by over 36 points.

Costabal’s role at Casa Común was that of a creative advertiser, a space where several current government members also converged. In that Vitacura office, Irarrázaval and Dülger also worked.

One of the founders of the organization, Gerardo Jofré, who served as chairman of Codelco from 2010 to 2014, confirmed that «Yeti» worked there, stating that his recruitment was due to the search for someone who was «professionally skilled» and had a background in advertising.

When referring to Cerimedo, Jofré stated he had «experience in this type of polling and was part of a circle of many people involved in the command, conducting at least three surveys through his holding Numen Group, whose Chilean subsidiary was established by lawyer Enrique García Arancibia, who would later become an arbiter within the Committee deciding on the new Constitution’s admissibility.

Costabal’s Path to La Moneda

Felipe Costabal’s career has only gained momentum following his work on the rejection campaign, closely aligning him with the constitutional process and Kast’s rise. In 2021, he advised Luis Silva’s campaign for the Convention, creating the brand «Professor Silva,» and that same year was recruited by Kast’s advisor, Cristián Valenzuela, for the presidential campaign. His creative mark was evident with the slogan «Dare», the jingle «Vote 2, vote Kast», and the controversial replacement of government program names with «Hollywood» titles like «implacable plan» or «Cerberus plan,» decisions that drew significant criticism and were reignited following the dramatic transfer of prisoners to Talca prison.

Once established in La Moneda, «Yeti’s» management at the Secom has not been without controversy, reflecting a governance style focused on political control. In March, amid the crisis due to rising fuel prices, his team distributed a memo that used the term «bankruptcy» concerning the fiscal coffers, which was rejected even by Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz. Simultaneously, an internal protocol was leaked that centralized all guidelines and official statements within Secom, sparking criticism for excessive centralization. Also notable are legal issues, such as the rejection by Tricel of a $160 million invoice from his company, and his ties to Porcel TV through a company established in 2023 with the channel owner, Leonardo Prieto.

The investigative journalism exposing these connections has had political repercussions, leading the opposition to formally request explanations. Deputies Jaime Araya, Daniel Manochehri, and Juan Santana formally approached Servel and La Moneda to clarify the links between Numen and presidential advisors. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Felipe Costabal, the current head of Secom, has not answered questions from El Mostrador regarding his role in Casa Común and his connection to the «King of Trolls», leaving the actual extent of his relationship with the far-right operator and its impact on the government’s communication strategy in question.