# Aurelio Umali

Aurelio Matias Umali (born January 25, 1966) is a Filipino politician and lawyer from the third district of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Umali is the youngest elected governor in the province since his first government office position. He currently serves as a Governor of Nueva Ecija. He was a governor for three terms from 2007 to 2016 and was re-elected in 2019.

## Early life and education

Aurelio Umali was born in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, on January 25, 1966. In 1990 he finished Bachelor of Laws degree at San Beda College in Manila. He also graduated in De La Salle University with a degree in business administration and Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of Santo Tomas.

## Career

Prior to his entry in politics in 2001, Umali served as Deputy Commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission. Prior to that he was Procurement and Sub-Contract Director of Lucent Technologies. He entered politics as Congressman of Nueva Ecija's 3rd District by defeating Edward Thomas Joson and later on elected as governor in 2007 after defeating another Joson. After his term as governor, he was succeeded by his wife Czarina Domingo-Umali for one term. He had his attempt to come back as a Congressman of the province's 3rd district but lost to neophyte politician Rosanna "Ria" Vergara. Umali successfully returned to government after being elected again as provincial governor in the 2019 mid-term elections despite a dismissal and disqualification order from the Office of the Ombudsman.

## Legal issues

In 2016, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales found Umali guilty on four counts of graft and three counts of malversation for the alleged misuse of his PDAF in 2005. Umali's P15-million PDAF was meant to buy irrigation pumps and fertilizers for his constituents in Laur, Gabaldon, Bongabon, Santa Rosa, General Mamerto Natividad, and Cabanatuan. To do this, Umali downloaded millions to his NGO partners – P12 million ($240,975) to the Masaganang Ani para sa Magsasaka Foundation Incorporated (MAMFI) and P3 million ($60,244) to Samahan. Umali made it appear that the funds were used to purchase 7,920 bottles of liquid fertilizers and 15 irrigation pumps however, there was no real purchase at all since the liquid fertilizers had been sourced from another company of Janet Lim-Napoles, Nutrigrowth Philippines. Umali was then dismissed and bared on holding any public office. In 2020, the case against him were dismissed by the Sandiganbayan Second Division due to the violation of his right to speedy disposition of cases.
In 2024, the office of Ombudsman Samuel Martires in a five-page Order dated May 10, directed the six months preventive suspension without pay of Umali. It also directed DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos to implement the “immediately executory” suspension, which originated from a complaint of Roberto Duldulao regarding the alleged issuance of 205 permits for sand and gravel extraction to illegal quarries in Nueva Ecija in violation of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act. His wife, former Governor Czarina Umali and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office officer Wilfredo Pangilinan were also named as defendants for violation of R.A. 3019, the Anti-Graft statute. Umali filed a Certiorari Petition with the Court of Appeals of the Philippiness 11th Division. The Court subsequently granted his appeal for a 60-day temporary restraining order on 22 May, hours after the suspension was served.

## Personal life

Umali is married to Czarina Umali, who has also served as governor of Nueva Ecija and representative of its third district. His younger brother, Emmanuel Antonio Umali, has also served as a member of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Board and became vice mayor of Cabanatuan and later provincial vice governor.
Furthermore, Umali passed the Philippine Bar Exam and is a lawyer.