The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) raised formal objections to $100,436,919 in spending by the Biobío Regional Government (GORE), based in Concepción, over irregularities in domestic and international travel by officials, staff and regional council members between 2022 and 2024.
This was reported by La Tercera, which reviewed Final Special Investigation Report No. 169 of 2026, prepared by the Biobío Regional Comptroller's Office. The audit aimed to verify compliance with regulations and the use of public funds for official assignments, meaning official travel funded by the state.
The main finding concerns foreign travel. According to the report, the regional government authorized staff to accompany then regional governor Rodrigo Díaz without express legal authority or the exceptional authorizations required by law. BioBioChile identifies Díaz by name.
The review also detected trips within and outside Chile whose institutional necessity was not justified, nor was their connection to the duties of those who traveled. There was spending on activities that ultimately did not take place, participation by staff and third parties without sufficient justification, and expenditures with no demonstrable benefit to the institution.
The specific cases include an official assignment in the United States by a female staff member. The Comptroller's Office concluded that neither a connection between the purpose of the trip and her position nor a justified public interest had been established. The report does not identify the staff member.
Airfare purchases also drew objections. The oversight body detected purchases made without the required advance notice, late purchase orders, failures to comply with tender conditions and a lack of supporting documentation for the selection of certain flights. It therefore instructed the regional government to strengthen its internal procedures.
The formal objections were raised under Law No. 10,336, which governs the Comptroller's Office. The report also identified another $98,627,794 in expenses whose results or benefits the Regional Government must substantiate with documents. The sources report no response from the regional government or Díaz.
The Comptroller's Office ordered steps to secure repayment of the funds flagged and, if necessary, administrative and legal action to recover them. The regional government must submit the outstanding documentation through the Comptroller's Office Monitoring and Support System. The sources do not specify a deadline.
