The controversy continues over the departure of the former Social Development minister, Patricia Hidalgo. The former official turned to the Comptroller’s Office to investigate the pressure that she said she had received, with a focus on Minister Carolina Tohá, Minister Giorgio Jackson and delegate Constanza Martínez.
The ex-seremi of Social Development, Patricia Hidalgoattended this Wednesday to comptrollership to determine possible irregularities in the Environmental Evaluation Commission of the Metropolitan Regionafter denouncing pressure to approve projects.
Hidalgo denounced that he was asked to resign after he refused to vote in favor of controversial projects, such as the Living Mall of Ñuñoaa treatment plant in Quilicura and the second section of the Vespucio Oriente highway.
He added that on one occasion the person who asked him to vote was the presidential delegate Constanza Martinezwhile on another occasion they spoke to him by order of the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Toha.
However, the Ministry of Social Development led by Giorgio Jackson stated that he was asked to resign not reporting an alleged rape against a girlthis in a care center for homeless people.
Higaldo arrived this Wednesday at the Comptroller’s Office together with the environmental lawyer, Marcelo Castillo, they request the comptroller to investigate if there were violations of the lawadministrative faults and sanction those who are responsible.
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In the document, Hidalgo insists that he met with Minister Jackson, who requested his resignation for “a ‘bad review’ for my differences with the undersecretary Francisca Perales and the Presidential Delegate RM Constanza Martínez, because they would not have complied with their authority and orders when approving or rejecting the projects indicated in the Evaluation Commission of the RM”.
In addition, he assured that the rape had been denounced “by the In charge of the Undersecretariat of Social ServicesMaría Talón Villacañas, that is, by the responsible official and/or entity”.
For this reason, he denounced that there were irregularities allegedly committed by Minister Tohá and its possible relationship with the company behind the Quilicura plant (San Isidro SA); in the instructions given by the undersecretary Francisca Perales and the delegate Martínez; and in the accusation of omission to report made by Minister Jackson.
In the document, he asked various authorities to officiate, including the president Gabriel Boric.
“The one who is lying is Minister Jackson”
At a press point, Hidalgo insisted that “The one who is lying is Minister Jackson. Minister Carolina Tohá told me personally that she did not know what project she was talking about or about obligations to vote in a certain way. That was what she told me. And I, unlike her, must trust her word ”
He added that with everything that happened “it was about sully my honor because of what I said to him (Jackson) to his face… I told him minister, they forced me to vote in a certain way, which is improper and illegal”.
“It’s my word against theirs, the thread is always cut at the thinnest… He is giving drowning sticksbecause he knows he is lying,” he added.
Martínez insists on denying pressure
The RM delegate, Constanza Martínez, insisted this Wednesday that there was no pressure to the ex-seremi Hidalgo to vote on certain projects.
“We have to focus on the needs of people and not on the bickering between authorities and ex-authorities”said.