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Original article: “Tuvimos que poner dinero de nuestro bolsillo”: querella contra Hernán Briones destapa denuncias desde residencias de Mejor Niñez

As a lawsuit accuses Hernán Briones of embezzlement, misappropriation, and cyber crimes, workers from programs under the corporation reported a lack of resources, management issues, and negative impacts on the care of children and adolescents. 

A lawsuit filed by the Corporación Acogida against the former council candidate for Villa Alemana, Hernán Briones Cordero, over alleged crimes related to ethics, public trust, and information technology, among others, has raised alarms. 

According to the legal action, the former legal representative of the foundation allegedly transferred funds belonging to the corporation—including resources from public agencies like Mejor Niñez—to personal bank accounts. He is also accused of restricting access to institutional emails and subsequently demanding $5 million from the organization to regain control of these accounts. 

Briones faces charges that include property and ethical offenses; cyber crimes; crimes against public trust and identity; and crimes against individuals.

The accusations against the former council candidate include several allegations of embezzlement, misappropriation of resources, breach of trust, and conduct associated with extortion or coercion. 

Additionally, he is charged with unlawful access and interception. He also faces allegations of identity theft and threats. 

Although the amounts involved do not reach the scale of other cases in which he has been mentioned, the corporation warns that the reported incidents could significantly impact its stability. The lawsuit states that the institution heavily relies on state resources to implement its programs, so any scrutiny over the handling of these funds could undermine the trust of funding agencies and jeopardize future contributions. 

The lawsuit attributes three alleged irregular transfers made by Briones between 2022 and 2026, totaling $11,776,062. According to the document, the funds were transferred without authorization from the Corporación Acogida accounts to personal accounts, including over $8 million from the PEE San Miguel program, which is currently in the process of closure. Notably, one of these questioned transactions reportedly occurred months after the accused formally left the institution.

While Briones claimed these were payments for professional services, the corporation accuses him of embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds, arguing that the involved resources originated from the state and were intended for child protection programs.

The criticisms Briones faces today are not isolated incidents. Years before, his name had already surfaced in a journalistic investigation examining the distribution of resources from Mejor Niñez managed by various collaborating entities. 

Allegations of Impact on Child Protection Programs

It is notable that in the lawsuit, the Corporación Acogida accuses Briones of breaching special child protection regulations, arguing that the alleged diversion of funds undermines the principle of the Best Interests of the Child by depriving the institution of necessary resources to uphold the rights of children and adolescents served in critical programs like the PEE San Miguel. 

Furthermore, the document outlines other irregularities that occurred while Briones was the legal representative of the foundation, including an alleged attempt to change the corporation’s operational address for personal benefit and to involve relatives in questionable positions due to their lack of suitability. 

Additionally, he is accused of making threats and coercive actions towards board members, including his own cousin. 

Alleged Control of Institutional Email

Another aspect of the lawsuit points to alleged cyber crimes. The Corporación Acogida accuses Briones of maintaining control over the organization’s institutional email and demanding a payment of $5 million to restore access to the account. According to the legal action, this situation occurred after his resignation, which was submitted in November 2025. 

«The accused still retains exclusive and arbitrary control over the email account contacto@corporacionacogida.cl. This email serves as the official communication channel for the institution, through which all critical information flows, including notifications from courts, public agencies, and communications from users and providers,» the lawsuit states. 

In a conversation with El Ciudadano, a former employee whose identity will remain confidential indicated that the email was essential for the proper functioning of the programs. They explained that through this email, judicial resolutions, case details, and communications relating to the children and adolescents cared for by the institution were received.

One educator stated that «the cases of girls sent by the court arrived at the institutional email.» In that vein, another former employee noted: «The last month we were completely disconnected because we had no access to the institutional email.» 

Workers Describe the Impact on the Care of Children and Adolescents

The allegations detailed in the lawsuit resonate with testimonies from workers of programs dependent on the Corporación Acogida. When consulted by El Ciudadano under anonymity, four staff members asserted that the alleged irregularities directly repercussions on the daily operations of residences intended for the protection of children and adolescents.

Indeed, the workers’ accounts reveal that in recent years, the corporation has faced challenges in covering the basic needs of residents, such as food, school supplies, bedding, and essential hygiene items. 

«The irregularities directly affected the functioning of the residence and, primarily, the quality of life of the girls. During my time as a direct care educator, I observed deficiencies in basic areas like food, clothing, school supplies, bedding, and personal hygiene products,» a former worker from the Corporation stated. 

In the same vein, another worker commented: «I work in one of the many programs of the Corporation, at the residence […] in San Fernando, as a direct care educator. And it was particularly affected in the girls’ feeding, clothing, and daily necessities, such as their bedding and personal hygiene items.» 

But the workers’ complaints go even further, stating that in addition to the lack of food and basic materials, there was an environment of total unsanitariness:

«They negatively impact everything from the basic needs like the girls’ food, resources that were scarce or not arriving by the end of the month, and were not considered when thinking of changing furniture or improving the aesthetics of the residence. The sanitation was terrible, considering the presence of rodents, spider bites, or various insects that were not exterminated properly.»

«We Often Had to Put Money Out of Our Own Pockets»

Accounts from workers and former employees of the foundation reveal that the issue impacted even deeper, indicating difficulties in accessing resources essential for the daily functioning of the residences. 

These educators agreed that for about a year, the residence has been without an institutional van, which has hindered the transportation of the girls to medical appointments and other essential activities. 

«Many times, we have had to use our own money for transportation or for the girls’ food,» a staff member reported. 

In this regard, another former employee added: 

«Moreover, when I started working, the residence had an institutional van that allowed the girls to go to medical appointments, activities, and other needs. However, we have been without that vehicle for about a year now, which has caused significant difficulties for transportation. On several occasions, the staff had to cover transport costs or expenses related to the girls’ needs from our own pockets.»

On the other hand, a former employee of the Corporation stated that the disbursement of funds for food, medications, and transportation faced constant delays, which forced the team to temporarily finance expenses while awaiting reimbursements. 

Staff Raise Concerns About Hiring Practices and Workplace Environment

Besides the facts contained in the lawsuit, some workers consulted by this medium raised concerns regarding internal hiring practices within the corporation and reported a workplace climate that they describe as challenging.

In this regard, one of the workers stated that two relatives of the administration may have been hired at the residence for positions that raised concerns among some staff. 

She also claimed that the corporation allocated resources for financing her lodging, and that one of them continued working at the residence after leaving the position they were originally hired for, receiving a higher salary than other educators. 

Regarding this, another staff member remarked:

«Among the staff, there were concerns that went beyond the current investigations. One of them was the hiring of relatives of those linked to the administration of the corporation to work within the residence. This situation raised apprehension because while there were shortages of resources directly affecting the girls, there were also expenditures that workers found difficult to comprehend and justify.» 

Both accounts align with that of another former employee who also questioned the hiring of relatives of individuals associated with the organization’s management. She noted that two staff members had family ties to one of the organization’s executives and worked as direct care educators. 

The former employee also stated that these individuals utilized the residence’s facilities and resources and held salaries significantly higher than those of other staff performing similar duties, a situation that, in her opinion, raised doubts among the team.

The Consequences of Briones

The employees consulted by El Ciudadano agree that the main repercussions of these situations ultimately impacted the stability of teams and the continuity of interventions for children and adolescents. In their view, the ongoing staff turnover, the difficulties in accessing basic resources, and administrative problems ended up affecting the day-to-day functioning of programs aimed specifically at protecting vulnerable minors.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit filed by the Corporación Acogida seeks to have the Public Ministry investigate the reported incidents and determine any potential criminal responsibilities. Simultaneously, the testimonies collected by this medium indicate other concerns within the organization that, according to former employees, deserve scrutiny due to their possible impact on the care of children and adolescents under state protection.

La entrada «We Had to Foot the Bill Ourselves»: Lawsuit Against Hernán Briones Exposes Allegations From Mejor Niñez Residences se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.