Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman filed three counts of graft against former Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. over his alleged financial interest in a construction company that secured more than ₱611 million in government flood control contracts.
The cases stemmed from two complaints filed in July and August 2026: one by the Ombudsman Field Investigation Office (FIO) over Gonzales’ alleged financial interest in A. D. Gonzales Jr. Construction and Trading Company Inc., and another by Barangay Sto. Cristo, Mexico, Pampanga village chief Terence Sampang Napao over project defects.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office III (Central Luzon) awarded the company three contracts covering flood mitigation facilities in San Fernando and Bacolor of more than ₱252 million, and two projects in Mexico of more than ₱94 million and nearly ₱265 million, respectively.
Napao’s complaint cited severe erosion, collapsed concrete slabs, fractured sections, large cavities, exposed metal and debris at the project sites. He alleged that substandard construction materials weakened the structures and caused them to deteriorate prematurely.
The ombudsman said it found evidence that Gonzales retained a financial interest in the company while serving in Congress, despite claiming he had transferred his shares to his sister.
It said the transfer was temporary and concealed his continued interest, citing Anti-Money Laundering Council records.
“Pag tinitrace mo ‘yung anti-money laundering records, ‘yung kanyang binayad doon sa mga construction companies where he supposedly divested, still goes to his private bank accounts,” Ombudsman Boying Remulla said.
[Translation: When you trace his anti-money laundering records, his payments to the construction companies where he supposedly divested still goes to his private bank accounts.]
The ombudsman said it found prima facie evidence to charge Gonzales with three violations of Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits public officials from having a financial interest in transactions in which they intervene in their official capacity.
The complaints against the other respondents were dismissed for insufficient evidence, and the cases against Gonzales were raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s Second, Third and Seventh Divisions.
In his Oct. 12 annual report, Remulla said 39 flood control-related cases had been filed in court.
Gonzales was a lawmaker from 2007 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2025, including as senior deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.
