The Ministry of Sports responded to inquiries from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic regarding a complaint against Minister Natalia Duco concerning Proddar scholarship payments and the alleged misuse of a government vehicle.
According to reports, the Undersecretariat of Sports submitted its formal response on July 30. The oversight body had requested background information following a formal complaint filed earlier that month. The scrutiny focuses on two main issues: the sports scholarship received by Duco prior to her appointment as a cabinet minister and her use of an official vehicle during an evening event in April.
Proddar Scholarship Payments and Timeline
The institute's response specifies that Duco's final scholarship payment was issued on Jan. 12, covering the period of December 2025. Authorities emphasized that this disbursement occurred before Duco's appointment as future minister was publicly announced on Jan. 20.
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Vehicle Use and Contradictory Evidence
The second area of investigation involves the use of an institutional vehicle on the night of April 23, when Duco attended an event with ministry staff. While the initial complaint alleged the minister used public resources for a personal celebration unrelated to her official duties, the Ministry of Sports defended the trip as a work-related journey. The vehicle’s logbook records that Duco traveled to a work meeting involving both ministerial cabinets at the private home of a former honorary staff member. The Undersecretariat insisted this usage complied with state vehicle regulations restricting such transport to official institutional purposes.
The logbook details a departure at 20:05 hours toward the Lo Curro sector in Vitacura. The vehicle subsequently traveled to Duco’s residence in Las Condes and concluded its route at 23:45 hours in Pudahuel, logging the trip as a ministerial transport for a meeting in Vitacura. However, subsequent video evidence complicates this official account. Footage from the evening depicts ministry employees participating in a camaraderie event featuring karaoke alongside the minister. Video recordings also show various beverages and the institutional vehicle’s driver resting under a blanket on the property’s terrace. A WhatsApp invitation inviting staff to celebrate their first month and a half in office with a barbecue and karaoke was also revealed, details that were absent from the Subsecretariat’s official report to the Comptroller General.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The Comptroller General of the Republic is now tasked with reviewing the evidence submitted by the Ministry of Sports. The oversight agency could evaluate the discrepancy between the official logbook and the video evidence when issuing its final ruling on the complaint against Natalia Duco.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the response submitted to the Comptroller General?
The Subsecretariat of Sports submitted the formal response on July 30, following an inquiry regarding a complaint filed earlier that month.
When was Duco’s last Proddar scholarship payment issued?
The final payment was made on Jan. 12, covering the December 2025 period, prior to the public announcement of her ministerial appointment on Jan. 20.
How did the Ministry categorize the vehicle trip on April 23?
The Ministry’s logbook and official response classified the journey as a work meeting held between ministerial cabinets at a private residence in Vitacura.
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