The regional director of the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) in Antofagasta, Ricardo Munizaga, refuses to leave his post, according to Emol. He is doing so despite the Regional Presidential Delegation having already announced his departure. In practice, two people now consider themselves in charge of emergencies in the region.
Senapred is the state agency that coordinates prevention and response to disasters such as earthquakes, mudslides and fires. It replaced the former National Emergency Office (Onemi).
Munizaga was the first to make the dispute public. He said the service's national director, Alicia Cebrián, came to his office to ask him to resign voluntarily. He refused. According to him, there was no "technical argument, justification, record of failure to meet targets, objectives or similar requirements".
The Government's account differs. The regional secretary of Government, Catalina González, explained to El Mercurio de Calama that the removal is based on the grounds of loss of confidence provided for in the Senior Public Management Law. She added that the Ministry of the Interior had authorized it.
"This process has already been formalized, with approval by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic," González said. She also stated that the service's operational continuity is assured under the acting leadership of Jorge Ramos.
Munizaga disagrees. He maintains that he has received no official notification or call requiring him to leave. He therefore says the measure is not yet in effect. That position would leave two directors "currently in office" at the same service.
Two former Onemi directors offered their assessments. Irina Salgado explained that once the dismissal process begins, the acting director takes charge of emergencies. "I understand it is Ramos, until the new director is appointed through a competitive selection process," she said.
Mario León agreed that Ramos should coordinate the response to an emergency. However, he warned that Munizaga retains administrative responsibility because his dismissal has not yet been fully completed.
León said he had never seen anything like this at the service. The uncertainty directly affects residents of a region exposed to earthquakes and mudslides. "Many will ask themselves: if there is an emergency, who will lead us or coordinate us?" he said.
So far, the source has not reported a date for the Senior Public Management selection process to appoint the new permanent director. Nor does it say whether Munizaga will take legal action.
