A GRAFT complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against House Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. over three civil works contracts worth more than P611 million awarded to an entity allegedly owned by his family.

Based on the complaint filed by Terrence Napao, barangay chairman of Santo Cristo and president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in Mexico on September 7, the contracts involved flood management projects.

“These projects are glaring examples of ‘conflict of interest in public service’ and obviously manipulated to favor the family-owned business of Congressman Gonzales,” Napao said.

Charged with Gonzales were Aurelio Brenz Gonzales, Aurelio Gonzales 3rd, Alyssa Michaela Gonzales, Aurelio Michaeline Gonzales and Zenaida Quiambao.

Other respondents were Roseller Tolentino, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3, Ignacio Evangelista, Anna Marie Tayag and Arthur Santos.

The complaint alleged there was partiality in awarding the civil works contracts to A.D. Gonzales Jr. Construction & Trading Co. Inc., a corporation managed and owned by the Gonzales family.

It also said three family members are “currently holding public offices in the specific province where the three projects will be implemented and undertaken.”

Aside from the congressman, there was also Aurelio Brenz, a councilor in San Fernando City, and Alyssa Michaela, a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

“Considering all the circumstances present herein, it can be clearly deduced that DPWH BAC (bids and awards committee) unduly favored the corporation owned, managed, and controlled by Gonzales

family. On the part of ADG Inc.’s officers, they should not have participated and submitted a bid knowing that the project is being implemented within the district where [Congressman] Gonzales, their father, is holding public office,” the complaint said.

The shareholders, officers and directors of the corporation at the time were also “the children and immediate family members of” Gonzales.

Although the congressman “transferred his shares, the current majority owners and officers of the said company are still composed of his children and immediate family members,” the complaint said.

The Manila Times reached out to Gonzales’ office for his comment, but it has yet to make a statement.

The anti-graft law prohibits public officials from “giving a private party unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of their official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”

It also bans public officers “from having financial or pecuniary interest in a business, contract or transaction in connection with which they intervene or take part in their official capacity, or in which they are prohibited by the Constitution or by any law from having any interest.”