He obtained his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science from the Far Eastern University in 1975 and his post graduate degree in Bachelor of Laws from Ateneo de Manila University in 1979 with Honors.

He passed the 1979 bar examinations as among the Top 25 examinees, and having been admitted to the bar on May 8, 1980, he went into trial practice under the tutelage of his eminent father, the late (former) Senate President Neptali A. Gonzales.

He co-founded the firm and handled criminal and commercial cases. Apart from his legal practice, he served as professor and Criminal Law Bar Reviewer at the Far Eastern University Institute of Law.

In 1995, he entered government service when he was elected as the Representative of the Lone District of Mandaluyong City. He served in such capacity from 1995 to 2004, 2007 to 2016, and 2019 up to the present.  He also served as Mayor of Mandaluyong City from 2004 to 2007.

From 2016 to 2019, he returned to the practice of law with the firm and was the partner-in-charge of the litigation until he was re-elected as Representative of the Lone District of Mandaluyong City in 2019 elections.

In the House of Representatives, he was elected as Majority Floor Leader of the 11th, 12th, 15th, and 16th Congresses, earning for him the distinction of serving such position for the longest period.

Email address: nepgon2@yahoo.com.ph