Aurelio "Dong" Dueñas Gonzales Jr. (born October 27, 1962)[1] is a Filipino politician, civil engineer, and businessman who served as representative of the 3rd District of Pampanga from 2016 to 2025, a position he previously held from 2007 to 2013.
Early life and education
Gonzales was born at the Virgen de los Remedios Hospital in Barangay San Jose in San Fernando, Pampanga on October 27, 1962 to Aurelio Gonzales Sr. and Cezaria Dueñas. He was raised in Barangay Anao in Mexico, Pampanga. He studied Anao Elementary School and Anao National High School for his primary and secondary education. He took up Civil Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology. In 1987, He passed the Civil Engineering board exam.
Political career
Pampanga Provincial Board (2004–2007)
Before becoming a congressman, he was a board member for the same district for one term before running for Congress.
House of Representatives (2007–2013; 2016–2025)
He won the 2007 election against Dinan Labung and Tiger Lagman.
He was one of the signatories of House Resolution 1109 in 2009 calling for a constituent assembly to amend the Constitution.
He ran for representative in the 2013 elections and received a total of 108,275 votes, but lost to Oscar Samson Rodriguez.
In 2020, Gonzales supported the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[2][3][4]
In November 2023, Gonzales left PDP-Laban to join the Lakas–CMD party.[5][6] On February 5, 2025, Gonzales was among the 95 Lakas–CMD members who voted to impeach vice president Sara Duterte.[7][8]
Controversies
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines' Fourth Division Decision dated May 23, 2024, granted Gonzales Jr.'s certiorari annulling Regional Trial Court, Branch 42, San Fernando, Pampanga's judgment.[9] The ruling allowed Gonzalez' intervention in the compromise agreement between San Fernando City and Premier Central, Inc.'s ₱939 million sale of Paskuhan Village. The "deed of donation" transferred to San Fernando 5,000 square meters (54,000 sq ft) of the 9.3 hectares (23 acres) sold to Premier Central, Inc. and a 2-story building, and a company would construct an amphitheater. Gonzales was granted the right to file complaints on the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority sale decision of Paskuhan Village to Premier Central Inc. (PCI) in 2014 for ₱939 million.[10]
Personal life
Gonzales was married to Elizabeth Mendiola Panlilio until her death at the 2017 Resorts World Manila attack on June 2, 2017.[11] Their only child named Aurelio Brenz (incumbent Vice Mayor of San Fernando, Pampanga and named after Bren Guiao).
Gonzales later married his second wife, Michaeline "My-My" de Guzman Mercado. Mercado is currently serving as a member in the Pampanga Provincial Board for the 3rd district since 2025.[12][13] Together, they have children named Aurelio III, Aurelio Michaeline, Michael Aurelio and Alyssa Michaela (incumbent Representative from Pampanga's 3rd district).
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Party | Votes received | Result | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | National | Total | % | P. | Swing | |||||
| 2004 | Board Member (Pampanga–3rd) | Buklod Capampangan | —N/a | —N/a | —N/a | 2nd | —N/a | Won | ||
| 2007 | Representative (Pampanga–3rd) | —N/a | KAMPI | 84,797 | —N/a | 1st | —N/a | Won | ||
| 2010 | Lakas–Kampi | 195,651 | 87.84% | 1st | —N/a | Won | ||||
| 2013 | NPC | 95,437 | 40.97% | 2nd | —N/a | Lost | ||||
| 2016 | 137,786 | —N/a | 1st | —N/a | Won | |||||
| 2019 | KAMBILAN | PDP–Laban | 226,785 | 90.82% | 1st | —N/a | Won | |||
| 2022 | 280,375 | 100.00% | 1st | —N/a | Unopposed | |||||
References
- 1."Aurelio Gonzales Jr". Rappler.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- 2.Punay, Edu (January 4, 2020). "Duterte allies, House leaders back ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- 3.Severo, Jan Milo (June 1, 2020). "Solon cites 'May Bukas Pa' to make case for ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- 4.Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- 5.Flora, Ian Ocampo (May 22, 2016). "Gonzales joins PDP–Laban". Sun.Star. Archived from the original on May 24, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- 6.Panti, Llanesca T. (November 14, 2023). "7 lawmakers from Duterte-chaired PDP-Laban defect to Romualdez-led Lakas CMD". GMA News Online. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- 7.Flores, Dominique Nicole (February 5, 2025). "Who are the 215 House endorsers of VP Sara Duterte's impeachment?". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- 8.Cervantes, Filane Mikee (February 6, 2025). "25 more lawmakers want to join as complainants vs. VP Sara". Manila: News and Information Bureau, Presidential Communications Office. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- 9.Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (June 22, 2024). "Gonzales: CA recognizes right to intervene in Paskuhan Village sale". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- 10."CA Allows Lawmaker To Intervene In 'Irregular' Sale Of Paskuhan Village In Pampanga". politiko.com.ph. June 23, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- 11.Cruz, RG (June 2, 2017). "Solon's wife among Resorts World Manila fatalities". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- 12."Gonzales family to seek power in Pampanga district". iOrbit News Online. October 9, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- 13."New positions, but still same families in Pampanga politics". Rappler. Retrieved October 11, 2024.