The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, October 16, filed three counts of graft against former Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. over his alleged financial interest in a construction firm awarded more than ₱611 million in government flood control contracts.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the charges stemmed from three Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office III projects awarded to A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction and Trading Company Inc. (ADG Construction) during Gonzales’ incumbency.
The projects included flood mitigation facilities in San Fernando and Bacolor worth more than ₱252 million, flood control and slope protection works in Mexico worth over ₱94 million, and another flood management project in the same municipality valued at nearly ₱265 million.
The cases arose from two complaints, including one filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office and another by Barangay Sto. Cristo, Mexico, Pampanga, chairman Terence Sampang Napao, who reported alleged structural defects in the projects.
The reported defects included severe erosion, collapsed and displaced concrete slabs, fractured structures, exposed metal components, and accumulated debris. Napao alleged that non-compliant construction materials compromised the structures’ durability.
The Ombudsman found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction that Gonzales violated Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, by maintaining a prohibited financial interest in a government contractor while serving as a congressman.
Although Gonzales claimed to have transferred his shares to his sister, investigators found that the arrangement did not constitute a valid divestment, citing anti-money laundering records that allegedly traced payments from the company back to his private bank accounts.
“There’s a divestment, pero it still flows back to him, bumabalik pa rin sa kanya yung pera,” Remulla said.
The Ombudsman dismissed the complaints against the other respondents due to insufficient evidence.
“Kapag nangako kami, aasahan ng taumbayan, may kasunod na aksyon,” Remulla said, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to accountability in government infrastructure projects.
