During 2019, Chilean police arrested a local family, accusing them of drug trafficking.

According to national news channels, the Peñaloléen organization is one of the largest in the Santiago area and operated all over the town.

[3] As a commune, Peñalolén is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde (mayor) who is directly elected every four years.

[1][2] The communal council has the following members: Since 1984, Peñalolén has had five mayors: Peñalolén is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Jaime Pilowski (PDC) and José Antonio Kast (UDI) as part of the 24th electoral district (together with La Reina).

The commune is represented in the Senate by Manuel José Ossandón (RN) and Carlos Montes (PS) as part of the 8th senatorial constituency (Santiago-East).