CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A complaint for plunder, graft, and possession of prohibited interest over two flood-control contracts worth a combined P359,374,654.14 has been filed with the Ombudsman against former House senior deputy speaker Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., along with five members of his family, and four Department of Public Works and Highways Region 3 officials.
Besides Gonzales, named respondents in the complaint filed on Aug. 5 by Mexico Liga ng mga Barangay president and Barangay Sto. Cristo chairman Terence Sampang Napao were Aurelio Brenz P. Gonzales, president and majority stockholder of A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co., Inc. (ADG) and now vice mayor of the City of San Fernando; Aurelio M. Gonzales III, ADG vice president; Alyssa Michaela M. Gonzales, ADG corporate secretary/treasurer and current Pampanga 3rd District representative; Aurelio Micheline M. Gonzales, ADG director; and Zenaida G. Quiambao, ADG director and authorized managing officer.
Also named in the complaint were former DPWH Region 3 director Roseller A. Tolentino, who signed the Notices of Award and Contract Agreements; BAC chairman Ignacio F. Evangelista; BAC Secretariat head Anna Marie L. Tayag; and BAC vice-chairman Arthur Q. Santos. DPWH personnel named only as “John Does” who allegedly certified accomplishment reports and progress billings were also included.
The complaint stems from two DPWH Region III contracts along the Abacan River in Mexico, Pampanga, to wit:
(1) Contract ID 23C00048 — “Construction of Flood Control Structures, Abacan River, Diking and Slope Protection Works (Phase I),” in Suclaban — awarded for P94,552,876.03. Notice of Award: February 9, 2023; contract signed February 20; Notice to Proceed February 21; and
(2) Contract ID 23C00049 — “Flood Control Works, Abacan River, Diking and Slope Protection Works,” in Culubasa awarded for P264,821,778.11. Notice of Award: February 24, 2023; contract signed March 6; Notice to Proceed March 7.
Napao alleges both contracts were secured through Gonzales’s office as then-representative of the 3rd District of Pampanga comprising the City of San Fernando and the towns of Arayat, Bacolor, Mexico, and Santa Ana.
The criminal aspect of the complaint covers alleged violations under RA 7080 (Anti-Plunder Act); violations of Sections 3(e) and 3(h) of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Article 216 (possession of prohibited interest by a public officer) and Article 217 (malversation of public funds) of the Revised Penal Code; and Section 7 of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials).
On the administrative side were the allegations of Grave Misconduct, Serious Dishonesty, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, with penalties of dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public office.
Dismissed case
The same complainant, Barangay Sto. Cristo chairman Napao, haled Gonzales, et al, to the Ombudsman in September 2023, alleging that Gonzales and DPWH officials “conspired to corner” P611,577,718.40-worth of flood mitigating projects which were awarded to the construction company bearing the congressman’s name and with business address adjacent to the residence of the then-deputy speaker in the capital city.
In November 2023, that complaint was dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman “for lack of merit.”
Napao claims fresh evidence including a 2023 video footage and geotagged photographs taken July 30, 2026 alleging “the projects were built with substandard materials that have since collapsed, eroded, or required unexplained repair.,” prompted the filing of the new complaint.
Ombudsman probe
In the middle of last month, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla bared to media that charges are being prepared against Gonzales for alleged conflict of interest relating to the former House senior deputy speaker’s reported involvement in contracting businesses while serving in Congress, including projects related to flood control.
Gonzales has previously dismissed reports of cases being filed against him as “rehashed and recycled.”
Punto! has failed to contact Gonzales for his side as of posting time. Contributed photos