Francisco Orrego
Francisco Javier Orrego Gutiérrez (born 6 October 1986), commonly known as Pancho Orrego, is a Chilean lawyer, politician, political commentator, and television personality.
Orrego became known for his appearances on the debate show Sin filtros, where he developed a reputation for his direct and confrontational style. Carlos Larraín has been described as his political "godfather" within National Renewal (RN), of which Orrego is a member.
Orrego is a defender of Chile's individual capitalization pension system (AFP). He has described himself as an anticommunist and a follower of Jaime Guzmán. He is also an alumnus of the think tank Fundación para el Progreso (FPP), where he has served as a lecturer.
Biography
Orrego was born in Vina del Mar and grew up in Quilpué. He attended Colegio Champagnat in Villa Alemana.
In 2005, Orrego began studying law at the University of Chile and joined RN. He was a classmate of future Chilean president Gabriel Boric. Orrego confronted Boric during the 2009 occupation of the University of Chile's Law School. He also ran in student elections against Camila Vallejo and Gonzalo Winter.
Orrego wrote his thesis on the constitutions of Ecuador and Bolivia, comparing their constituent processes in the context of Chile's own constitutional process. In 2022, he advised constituent delegate Bernardo Fontaine on housing and pensions.
Media career
In 2021, Orrego began appearing regularly as a panelist on Sin filtros during the constituent process that led to the election of the Constitutional Convention.
His public profile grew in 2022 when he became one of the media spokespersons for the "Reject" campaign ahead of the 2022 constitutional plebiscite. He was also a spokesperson for the "Con mi plata no" movement.
In October 2024, Orrego was sanctioned for defamation following a lawsuit filed by journalist Josefa Barraza, then director of El Ciudadano. The case concerned Orrego's public claim that Barraza had been in a relationship with Héctor Llaitul, leader of the Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco. Orrego was ordered to issue public apologies in court and on the program.
In August 2025, Orrego described Carlos Caszely as "politically ignorant" during a political discussion concerning José Antonio Kast. He later said that his remarks had been inappropriate and that he owed the former footballer a "conversation".
Orrego's appearances on Sin filtros also led to his involvement with Radio Agricultura. He helped organize the radio program Los Tres Mosqueteros with historian and journalist Magdalena Merbilháa, who also appeared on Sin filtros.
Political career
In 2023, Orrego began pursuing a master's degree in political thought at the Universidad San Sebastián (USS). That year, he unsuccessfully ran for general secretary of RN.
In 2024, Gabriel Alemparte withdrew his candidacy for governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region and endorsed Orrego. Orrego subsequently ran for governor and lost to Claudio Orrego.
In 2025, Orrego was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.