Neptali "Boyet" Medina Gonzales II (born August 29, 1954) is a Filipino politician serving as the Representative of Mandaluyong's Lone District since 2019, and previously in the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Congress. He was also one of the House Deputy Speakers during the entire 18th Congress and has been the House Majority Leader from 2001 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2016.

Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales II
Portrait during the 19th Congress
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
July 22, 2019 – June 1, 2022
House SpeakerAlan Peter Cayetano
Lord Allan Velasco
House Majority Leader
In office
July 26, 2010 – June 6, 2016
Preceded byArthur Defensor Sr.
Succeeded byRodolfo Fariñas
In office
July 23, 2001 – June 4, 2004
Preceded bySergio Apostol
Succeeded byProspero Nograles
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Mandaluyong's Lone District
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded byAlexandria Gonzales
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byBenjamin Abalos Jr.
Succeeded byAlexandria Gonzales
In office
June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byBenjamin Abalos Jr.
Mayor of Mandaluyong
In office
June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2007
Vice MayorJesse Cruz
Preceded byBenjamin Abalos Jr.
Succeeded byBenjamin Abalos Jr.
Personal details
Born
Neptali Medina Gonzales II

(1954-08-29) August 29, 1954 (age 70)
Mandaluyong, Rizal, Philippines
Political partyNUP (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations
PDP–Laban (2018–2021)
Liberal (2009–2018)
Lakas–CMD (2001–2009)
LDP (1995–2001)
Spouses
Josephine Olivia Francisco
(died 2001)
Alexandria "Queenie" Pahati
(m. 2002)
Children3
ParentNeptali A. Gonzales Sr. (father)
Alma materFar Eastern University (BA)
Ateneo de Manila University (LL.B)
OccupationLawyer

Early life and education

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Gonzales was born on August 29, 1954, in Mandaluyong, Rizal to lawyer Neptali Gonzales, who would eventually become Senate President, and Candida Medina-Gonzales. He is their youngest child and only son. He has three older sisters, Myrna, Sorohayda, and Rhodora.

He attended the Mandaluyong Elementary School and received his secondary and college education at the Union High School of Manila of the Philippine Christian College (now the Philippine Christian University). He finished his degree in political science at the Far Eastern University (FEU) in 1975 and took up law at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he graduated in 1979.

Career

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Before entering public service, Gonzales was a senior partner of the law firm Gonzales, Batiller, Bilog, and Associates from 1980 to 1995. He also served briefly as a bar reviewer and professor in criminal law and constitutional law at the FEU Institute of Law.

Political career

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"Kaban ng Hiyas" - Office of Cong. Neptali Gonzales II, Mandaluyong City Hall Compound

Gonzales was the first Congressman of Mandaluyong when it was converted into a city in 1995 and separated from what used to be the San Juan-Mandaluyong Congressional District. He was City Mayor of Mandaluyong from 2004 to 2007 and Congressman for the city during the 14th Congress of the Philippines (2007–2010).

In the 10th Congress, he served on eight congressional committees, including the Committee on Rules. In the opening session of the 11th Congress, he was selected as one of the two vice–chairmen of the Committee on Rules, which was then chaired by Majority Leader Mar Roxas of Capiz City. Gonzales became Majority Leader toward the end of the 11th Congress and held the position into the 12th Congress. From 1995 to 2004, he authored 33 bills and was co-author of 92 bills. He was one of two newly elected members of Congress to have the greatest number of bills passed into law.

During his first 9-year period in Congress, Gonzales passed a bill allowing the construction of the City of Mandaluyong Science High School and leading the conversion of the Rizal Technological Colleges into Rizal Technological University. In recognition, the RTU awarded him a PhD in Public Administration (Honoris Causa) in October 2003.

During his three-year term as Mayor of Mandaluyong, Gonzales supported the implementation of improved physical and social infrastructure in Mandaluyong. He also initiated innovations in computerization, social infrastructure and urban renewal. He pushed for improvement in health care in the city by strengthening its only public hospital and empowering[clarification needed] all health centers for preventive health care. He instigated fresh initiatives in local fiscal reforms and tax collection. He urged private bodies to support the program of housing for the poor. His administration's partnership with the Gawad Kalinga and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission provided adequate housing for more than a thousand families in the city.

Gonzales was Senior Deputy Majority Leader of the 14th Philippine Congress. As such, he was an ex officio member of all House Committees. He was also Senior Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Rules, and headed the caucus of NCR[clarification needed] Congressmen. In the 15th and 16th Congress, he was the Majority Floor Leader of the House.

In the 18th Congress, Gonzales was elected to be one of the Deputy Speakers of the House.

Personal life

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Gonzales' first wife was Josephine Olivia Francisco, who died in May 2001. They had one daughter, Kristine Olivia. In December 2002, Gonzales married Alexandria Pahati, a television reporter, with whom he had twins, Neptali III and Isabel Candida.

References

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  • House of Representatives of the Philippines (2010-07-28). "Majority Leader Neptali 'Boyet' M. GONZALES II – House of Representatives of the Philippines". Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
House of Representatives of the Philippines
New district Member of the House of Representatives
from Mandaluyong's at-large district

1995–2004
Succeeded by
Benhur Abalos
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Mandaluyong's at-large district

2007–2016
Succeeded by
Alexandria Gonzales
Preceded by
Alexandria Gonzales
Member of the House of Representatives
from Mandaluyong's at-large district

2019–present
Incumbent
Preceded by House Majority Leader
2001–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by House Majority Leader
2010–2016
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Benhur Abalos
Mayor of Mandaluyong
2004–2007
Succeeded by
Benhur Abalos