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Government cuts nearly $3 billion from police budgets due to "rebound" effect

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Outraged members of the Chamber's Security Committee, starting with its president, Gloria Naveillán, acknowledge that the government indeed cut the budgets of both police forces, which were supposed to be exempt from resource reductions amid the security crisis.

According to a decree from the Ministry of Finance, the PDI (Investigative Police) saw a cut of $500 million, while Carabineros (National Police) faced a reduction of $2.339 billion in program 01 and $123 million in program 02. For all of them, the reduction applies to Subtitle 29, concerning the Acquisition of Non-Financial Assets; specifically, funds intended for vehicles.

This can be read in Decree No. 28 from the Ministry of Finance, which "modifies the current budget of the public sector." The document reached lawmakers' inboxes, and its contents were reported by "El Mercurio," as disclosed two Sundays ago regarding the $7 billion cut to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Legislators had some information from the background discussed yesterday in the Security Committee. Taking advantage of the attendance of Interior Minister Carolina Tohá (PPD) and the National Director of the PDI, Eduardo Cerna, deputies repeatedly requested details.

Upon hearing the questions, Tohá began using her smartphone to request information from the Budget Directorate (Dipres), as the cabinet chief later explained. While awaiting details, Tohá clarified the reductions to the police forces.

The "Rebound"

"The established protocol sets certain exclusions, which include Carabineros, PDI, and Gendarmerie (...) those are the exceptions. Regarding Carabineros and the PDI, there are no cuts like those applied to all other institutions. But what might exist—Dipres is currently exploring this; even they didn’t have this answer beforehand—is that the ministry’s cut 'rebounds' onto them because there’s a consolidated ministry budget that affects the police forces. But this is a cut to the Interior Ministry’s budget, right?" Tohá asked aloud, looking at the PDI chief, who appeared uncomfortable.

Expanding on the explanation, the Interior Minister commented, "The consolidated budget transferred to dependent agencies means that, in these cases where exceptions were made, there was no direct deduction from their own budgets. But this is like a rebound from the ministry’s institutional budget."

"That would be the explanation, as I understand it, but all of this seems like derivatives and the 'witches’ email' (...) That’s the situation," Tohá concluded, eliciting laughter in the committee for her witchcraft reference.

Even after Tohá’s remarks, more than one deputy insisted on a response from the PDI director.

PDI: "Any Cut Affects Us"

Under pressure, Cerna had to address inquiries about the reduction, confirming that these were Interior Ministry funds allocated to the PDI.

"I believe any cut has an impact, purely as a concept. But this is tied to programs under Interior’s budget that go to the PDI, as the minister said. There are also other projects in development that could complement or subsidize this, so there’s still much progress to be made. Initially, there’s a decree imposing the cut, but as mentioned, these are Interior funds. We also have other projects underway that could compensate, including the acquisition of an institutional building. So, I think this is an ongoing discussion, and we have good prospects," explained the PDI director.

"The Security Cut Decree is Appalling"

However, the Interior Ministry’s clarification did not reassure the legislators who heard it in the Security Committee.

For one of its pro-government members, Jaime Araya (ind. PPD), "a clear explanation and a concrete solution are urgent. The security cut decree is appalling—amid a full-blown security crisis, crimes everywhere, and Dipres slashing funds for the Prosecutor’s Office, Carabineros, and the PDI, even against explicit agreements. It seems fine print is a new hallmark of this government’s actions. It’s time for the President to issue instructions and restore seriousness in the Finance Ministry."

The opposition was also unsatisfied with the explanation. For former Security Committee chair Andrés Longton (RN), "this is one of the lowest points I’ve seen in terms of breaching formally signed agreements. Violating a protocol and snatching $2.4 billion from Carabineros and $500 million from the PDI shows this government not only fails to grasp the scale of the insecurity crisis we’re living through but is also deceiving Congress in an unprecedented act of disrespect."

What perhaps angered lawmakers the most was that, by whatever means—direct or indirect—the agreement was not to reduce resources for entities related to public safety, including written exemptions for Carabineros and the PDI, Naveillán argued.

The issue may also be reviewed in the Senate’s Constitution Committee, chaired by Alfonso de Urresti, who expects to summon the Finance Ministry and Dipres before the recess.

Source:El Mercurio