El Ciudadano
Original article: José Faúndez: el capitán que ordenó matar en La Serena y ahora espera el «perdonazo» de Kast
The individual sentenced to 15 years for the murder of Romario Veloz is positioned as the first potential beneficiary of presidential pardons.
On October 20, 2019, while leading the Fundamental Emergency Unit, José Santiago Faúndez Sepúlveda instructed his subordinates to form shooting chains and open fire with assault rifles on civilians near the Mall Plaza La Serena. Amidst the chaos, the officer not only ordered the use of live ammunition after looting had ceased, but also prohibited assistance to the wounded bleeding on the pavement while commanding the withdrawal of his troops, as confirmed by the courts. This behavior was seen by the judges as a serious breach of humanitarian aid and a sign of indifference toward the outcomes of his own orders.
Faúndez epitomizes the rigidly trained military officer who, far from engaging in self-criticism, defends his actions as a legitimate response under a State of Emergency. Recently, José Kast stated, «I will use the power of pardon for those who defended the homeland,» confirming that the presidential authority is subject to review on a case-by-case basis. This stance triggered a political earthquake, especially since the officer has never publicly expressed remorse towards the family of Romario Veloz or the other victims who survived with severe injuries.
According to reports from the Army’s Health Commission, behind the uniform and medals lies a man psychologically broken by the legal process and his conviction. Expert evaluations revealed an adaptive disorder resulting from service-related stress, which the military institution used in attempts to expedite his immediate discharge. This medical condition was not just a clinical detail but a strategy to secure his financial future through a second-class disability pension.
By 2024, the Chilean Army, under the command of Javier Iturriaga, sought to grant Faúndez a lifelong pension of approximately 2 million pesos per month. This administrative maneuver aimed to reward a soldier deemed by the Supreme Court as an author of unnecessary violence resulting in death. However, the Defense Ministry, under President Gabriel Boric, blocked the decree upon realizing that the ruling included a perpetual absolute disqualification from holding public office.
Within military units, Faúndez was known as a direct commanding officer, but his relationship with subordinates was exposed during the trial. Conscripts testified that they fired their SIG and Galil rifles strictly following orders from their superior. As the highest-ranking and most experienced officer present, the justice system concluded that the defendant had the ability to recognize that the use of war ammunition was disproportionate and unnecessary for maintaining public order.
His defense consistently argued that he was subject to political persecution, even bringing his case to the Supreme Court with a complaint rejected in May 2025. The highest court dismissed any claims of wrongdoing or abuse by the judges in La Serena, affirming that the captain acted with full awareness and intent to carry out the incriminated act. Despite the firmness of the ruling, the officer maintained his justification for his actions based on institutional loyalty and strict compliance with military regulations in effect in 2019.
Opinions within the political sphere are divided regarding the imminent presidential pardon for the officer. The president of the PPD, Jaime Quintana, suggested that “there may be some situation of injustice,” implying that each case should be evaluated on its merits, even acknowledging that there were documented damages and police excesses. In contrast, Kast’s supporters embrace the captain as a symbol of those who fulfilled their duty during a moment of extreme violence.
For the victims’ families, the news of the pardon is a slap in the face after years of effort to achieve judicial truth that now seems to be fading. The case of Romario Veloz, an Ecuadorian citizen living in La Serena, has become an emblem of state repression that the Kast government seeks to bury by appealing to forgiveness.
Currently, the officer awaits in his place of confinement for the presidential decree to be finalized so he can regain his freedom before completing the 15-year sentence. The combination of efforts for pension benefits and the promptness of the presidential pardon could turn his case into an example of institutional protection. To the justice system, he was an indifferent perpetrator, while to the Executive, he is an individual that needs to be rescued from penal punishment.
Between the mental disorder diagnosis and the perpetual disqualification imposed by law, Captain José Santiago Faúndez Sepúlveda could become the pioneer of the new pardon policy. The pardon soon to be granted does not erase the gunfire on Route 5 Norte but redefines the ethical priorities of the political cycle that the country is undergoing.
La entrada José Faúndez: The Captain Who Ordered Killings in La Serena Awaits Presidential Clemency from Kast se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
🔥 Ver noticia completa en ElCiudadano.cl 🔥
