Pablo Medina, controller of Inmobiliaria Fundamenta, rejected claims of irregularities in the judicial steps that allowed the Eco Egaña Comunidad Sustentable project to proceed in March 2023. In an interview, he defended the legality of the actions before the Supreme Court and denied any undue influence. The controversy arose after a Ciper report on the law firm Lagos, Vargas & Silber.
The Eco Egaña Comunidad Sustentable real estate project, valued at US$300 million, faced bureaucratic and judicial hurdles that threatened its progress. In November 2022, the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA), under director Valentina Durán, approved the project, overturning a prior April 2022 resolution by the Environmental Assessment Commission (Coeva). This allowed works to restart, and in February 2023, the Supreme Court ratified the SEA's decision via a cassation ruling, applying the Dominga case doctrine.
Medina stressed that the Supreme Court's resolution was "a mere formality" and not an extraordinary advancement. "We will not accept it being said that Eco Egaña succeeded through foul play or undue influences," he stated, defending the work of his legal team, including Rodrigo Benítez, Edesio Carrasco, and Raúl Tavolari on environmental matters.
The controversy escalated with a Ciper report detailing Fundamenta's dealings with the law firm Lagos, Vargas & Silber, hired in mid-2022 after the project's halt. Gabriel Silber offered their services, highlighting experience in similar disputes, and the firm handled community relations and lawsuits against the state. Medina denied knowledge of illicit practices: "We are an honest company with prestige." Two partners, Eduardo Lagos and Mario Vargas, are detained for alleged money laundering and bribery in the "Bielorrusia plot."
Fundamenta paid $600 million to the firm between 2022 and 2023 for preparing complaints of administrative prevarication and civil lawsuits. They also paid $2 million to Marcos Fuentes to challenge Minister Sergio Muñoz, who voluntarily recused himself upon learning his daughter was buying in the project. Medina debunked claims of $400 million payments to Fuentes and clarified they were unaware of Vargas's friendship with Minister Ángela Vivanco or her role in appointing Minister Diego Simpertigue.
Upon learning of the Movitec case, Fundamenta ended the relationship and revoked powers. They are now seeking new counsel for the lawsuit against the Treasury, with all legal expenses documented. Medina offered self-criticism: "If illicit acts occurred in our proceedings, we will be the first to repudiate them and pursue criminal action." He insisted there was no opacity or illegal actions, and the case was of national interest due to its complexity.