outstanding debt was submitted in May, 1999, for CLP 1,995,497,706.273 A new assessment was
submitted on January 7, 2000 under an order from the Copiapó Court of Appeals, setting the debt
at CLP 1,985,779,812.274
105. The plaintiffs petitioned on April 26, 2000, for the municipality’s assets to be attached.275
Two vehicles and eighteen properties belonging to the municipality were seized on April 28,
2000.276 The municipality claimed that these assets were being used for municipal activities and
services, and therefore were not subject to attachment. An inspection of the assets was therefore
ordered and was conducted on July 17, 2000.277 That same day, the plaintiffs petitioned for the
mayor of Vallenar to be admonished to issue the mayoral executive order.278 The court issued
the admonition on July 20, 2000.279
106. The municipality submitted financial statements, budgets, and payment order 2058-2000
on August 21, 2000, in compliance with the judgment.280 The plaintiffs challenged the payment
order, finding that it was invalid because it was vague and its purpose did not fit the legal
requirement.281 The municipality issued a new payment order on August 28, 2000,282 which was
again challenged by the plaintiffs, claiming that it did not list the specific sources for making
payment and that the references to future budgets were little more than a statement of intent to
pay.283
107. The Court of First Instance of Vallenar reviewed the petition of ineligibility for attachment
on November 11, 2000, and held that the assets listed and seized in the attachment were in fact
exempt from such a measure, with the exception of two vehicles and one piece of property.284
Both the plaintiffs and the municipality appealed this order, and the Copiapó Court of Appeals
partially upheld the municipality’s argument, holding that most of the properties were being used
for municipal services, and the attachment orders against them should therefore be lifted. The
273
Cf. Assessment submitted by accounting expert Gil Bravo Bravo to the Court of First Instance of Vallenar on
an illegible date in May 1999 (evidence file, folios 11278 to 11294).
274
Cf. Assessment submitted by accounting expert Gil Bravo Bravo to the Court of First Instance of Vallenar,
January 7, 2000 (evidence file, folios 11720 to 11735).
275
Cf. Brief filed by [Alexandra] Orrego Da Silva and Saida Bonett Simon on behalf of the plaintiffs before the
Court of First Instance of Vallenar, April 26, 2000 (evidence file, folios 11911 to 11915.).
276
Cf. Record of seizure, April 28, 2000 (evidence file, folio 11917 and 11921).
277
Cf. Record of seizure, July 17, 2000 (evidence file, folio 12050 to 12055).
278
Cf. Brief filed by [Alexandra] Orrego Da Silva on behalf of the plaintiffs before the Court of First Instance of
Vallenar, July 17, 2000 (evidence file, folio 12063).
279
Cf. Order by the Court of First Instance of Vallenar, July 20, 2000 (evidence file, folio 12064).
280
Cf. Briefs filed by Iván Mascareña Santana on behalf of the municipality of Vallenar before the Court of First
Instance of Vallenar, August 21, 2000 (evidence file, folios 12200, 12202, and 12207).
281
Cf. Brief filed by Saida Bonett Simon on behalf of the plaintiffs before the Court of First Instance of Vallenar,
August 25, 2000 (evidence file, folios 12224 and 12225).
282
Cf. Decree exempt from constitutional review 2115/2000, August 28, 2000, issued by the municipality of
Vallenar (evidence file, folios 12227 and 12228).
283
Cf. Brief filed by Saida Bonett Simon on behalf of the plaintiffs before the Court of First Instance of Vallenar,
August 30, 2000 (evidence file, folios 12290 a 12292).
284
Cf. Order by the Court of First Instance of Vallenar, November 11, 2000 (evidence file, folios 12471 to 12477).
38