The Special Investigative Commission of the Provincial Legislature—created under Resolutions No. 131/26 and No. 161/26 —resumed its working sessions this Thursday, August 6, after the winter recess. The body, chaired by legislator Pablo Villegas (MPF), uncovered a documentary finding that categorically alters the timeline of the case: the transnational firm LeoLabs began formally operating with the Tierra del Fuego government in November 2021 , months before initiating any corporate registration process in the province and when nothing was publicly known about the project.

The document, already published on the website www.palsur.com.ar , takes on new relevance in the context of the investigation, which seeks to establish the link between Leolabs and the Melella administration. This will allow for an evaluation of the institutional and political responsibilities that enabled the company's establishment and the installation of a dual-use radar system (civilian and military).

The "Zero Point" test: Supply on behalf of LeoLabs Inc. in 2021

Among the vast documentation received by the commission ( which is freely accessible and posted on the website of the legislature of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands ), the official form from the Provincial Energy Directorate (DPE) corresponding to the "REQUEST FOR SUPPLY FEASIBILITY" stands out. The official document—identified in the judicial and legislative file as page 160—contains extremely important information:

The date is absolutely revealing . In November 2021, LeoLabs Argentina SRL did n't even formally exist in the province's records (its three registrations with the General Inspectorate of Justice were only finalized on March 4, 2022). The application process with the Provincial Directorate of Economic Development (DPE) was initiated directly using the name of the US parent company and under the signature of José Luis Hormaechea, former head of the Río Grande Astronomical Station (EARG), a private consultant for the multinational company, and an advisor to Governor Gustavo Melella's administration since 2023.

Responses received and the block of the reluctant

In the report presented by legislator Pablo Villegas during Thursday's session, details were provided of the agencies that complied in a timely manner with the submission of certified copies of their files, as well as the evidence submitted by Civil and Commercial Judge Gustavo Fernández (Court No. 1 of the Southern Judicial District), magistrate who on July 2 provided the complete file where the request for corporate dissolution promoted by the IGJ is being processed.

Organizations that complied with the document submission:

Organizations in administrative rebellion:

Despite the serious institutional implications of the issue, key departments of the provincial Executive Branch continue to withhold the documentation requested by the Veterans Center. These include the Provincial Energy Directorate (DPE) , the Ministry of Public Works and Services , and the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers .

Faced with this reluctant stance, the Investigating Commission resolved to formally reiterate the requirements under penalty of: if non-compliance persists, the highest authorities of the areas in rebellion will be summoned to explain to the assembly the reasons for the withholding of documents.

First round of summonses and technical-scientific expertise

In the coming weeks, the Commission agreed to begin the cycle of key witness testimonies. Among the first summoned are:

1.    Jorge Enrique Taiana: Former Minister of Defense of the Nation, signatory of the final report that ordered the total cancellation of the radar for reasons of national security.

2.    General Juan Manuel Paleo: Former Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces (2023).

3.    Daniel Harrington: Mayor of the Municipality of Tolhuin.

4.    Pablo Blanco: Former national senator for Tierra del Fuego.

The Commission will also request that the Provincial Executive Branch order an immediate , independent technical and scientific assessment of the Leolabs property at the "El Relincho" ranch. The objective is to determine whether the radar is indeed inoperative, whether it remains in a latent state of "passive listening," or whether it can be remotely activated using alternative energy sources outside the provincial power grid.

Mail and virtual courier inspection

At the request of the Ushuaia Veterans Center , the Commission resolved to extend the request for evidence to the digital environment. All ministries, secretariats, and decentralized agencies will be required to provide certified copies of all institutional emails sent and received between them that are related to the LeoLabs administrative process.

Similarly, a formal request was made for the political officials, managers, professionals and technicians involved in the case to voluntarily provide the records of virtual messaging ( WhatsApp, Telegram or other online platforms) issued and received during the processing.

The Special Investigating Commission confirmed that during the next month of September it will present its first official public report , where it will include the preliminary conclusions, political responsibilities and findings of this process audited by the Malvinas combatants.