Deputy House Speaker and 3rd District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said he will address the cases hurled against him and all the officers of his construction firm by a Mexico town village chief in the proper forum once he receives a copy of the complaint.
In an official statement, Gonzales said, “I have not seen or received a copy of the complaint,” adding that he only learned of the issue over social media posts.
The deputy speaker said he was “amused” by the alleged filing of the case against him. He added that he will make public comments once he receives copies of the complaints.
On Monday, Mexico town Association of Barangay Chairman President and Santo Cristo chairman Terrence Napao filed a complaint against Gonzales and members of his family: City of San Fernando councilor Aurelio Brenz, 3rd District board member Alyssa Michaela, Aurelio III, and Aurelio Michaline – all officers of the A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co., Inc — along with company director Zenaida Quiambao for violations of Section 3 (e and h) of RA 3019 (the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), and the “Possession of Prohibited Interest by a Public Officer” from Article 216 of the Revised Penal Code.
Other government officials were also included in the charge sheet.
In his complaint, Napao alleged that Gonzales and the DPWH officials “cornered” P611,577,718.40 worth of flood mitigating projects which were awarded to the construction company of Gonzales.
“These projects are glaring examples of ‘conflict of interest in public service’, and obviously manipulated to favor the family-owned business of Congressman Gonzales, a known super-rich contractor in the province and a powerful ‘trapo’ (traditional politician),” Napao said