Photo: Fenix.

Santiago de Chile, Aug 11 (RHC) Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Thursday enacted a law to protect those who denounce acts of corruption, at a time when the scandal over the so-called Convenios case is hitting the government.

The regulation establishes protection mechanisms against possible reprisals or retaliatory acts against people who report conduct contrary to probity and establishes the obligation to investigate the cases.

It also provides for the creation of a new digital channel, administered by the Comptroller's Office, with the option of keeping the identity of the source confidential.

A study conducted in 2020 revealed that only 32.9 percent of victims or witnesses of an act of corruption reported it and the main reason for this attitude was the fear of being subjected to retaliation or threats.

"Any act of corruption weakens democracy and we want to take care of it", said the President in an event at the Palacio de La Moneda, and admitted that when there is misuse of public resources, trust is broken and society as a whole is damaged.

Several officials at national and regional level had to resign from their posts in the last two months, as a result of the so-called "Convenios Case", concerning irregularities in the transfer of state funds to private foundations.

At least 37 non-governmental organizations from 11 regions are being investigated by the Attorney General's Office. (Source: Prensa Latina).