House Appropriations Committee chairperson Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles on Sunday said he was not expecting any surprises in the days leading up to his 42nd birthday—until Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Thursday endorsed the three-term legislator for senator during the 49th Charter Day celebration of Mandaue City, an event hosted by Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.
“I was surprised, I really was not expecting it. It was a stunning birthday gift,” admitted Nograles, who had not been informed that the Davao City mayor would rally supporters behind the senatorial candidacies of government officials also present at the event.
The feisty Davao City mayor was one of the speakers, together with her father, President Rodrigo Duterte. She began her message by thanking the city of Mandaue for supporting her father during the 2016 presidential derby, a race wherein just over half of Cebu province’s 2.7 million votes went to the President.
Nograles, who turns 42 today, said that he was later floored when Mayor Duterte mentioned his name when she later called on the city to again show its support for the President by supporting senatorial candidates allied with the administration.
“As Mayor Sara herself said, our families were once political rivals in Davao. Her vote of confidence, however, shows how our passion for Davao, our love for Mindanao.”
“As Mayor Sara herself said, our families were once political rivals in Davao. Her vote of confidence, however, shows how our passion for Davao, our love for Mindanao, and our commitment to bring development and progress to areas outside Metro Manila transcends politics,” said Nograles.
At the event held at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex, Mayor Duterte told the audience that Nograles was an excellent legislator who was responsible for many projects in the 1st District of Davao.
“Tinuod man nga kani adto naa mi dili pagkasinabtanay sa pulitika pero dili nako madeny ang iyahang track record as our Congressman for the 1st District. (It is true that we had political differences before but I cannot deny his track record as our Congressman for the 1st District). He has done a lot for Davao City and he has done a lot for the 1st District of Davao City,” the Mayor said.
“At this point though, I don’t want to think about the elections because that is months away. We have to focus, first and foremost, on passing the President’s budget.”
In addition to this, Mayor Duterte said Nograles “is really hardworking and he is very knowledgeable about what he does. He is very bright also and he is running for Senator next year—atoang suportahan si Karlo Nograles (let’s support Karlo Nograles)!”
Nograles expressed his gratitude for the endorsement and said, “nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay Mayor Sara, I am very honored, I am very humbled. I believe, as the President’s tenure in Malacañang has shown, that the whole country benefits when more probinsyanos occupy national posts.”
“At this point though, I don’t want to think about the elections because that is months away. We have to focus, first and foremost, on passing the President’s budget and working to ensure the success of his programs and projects. Trabaho muna tayo.”
Aside from the endorsement of Mayor Duterte, Nograles was also one of eight possible Senate bets included in the PDP-Laban senatorial slate in 2019. This was announced by PDP-Laban President Sen. Koko Pimentel III during an assembly of PDP-Laban leaders in Pasay City Friday night, which was attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Pimentel said the President has assured support for PDP-Laban senatorial candidates “for as long as [they are] honest, principled, service-oriented, competent.”
