House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles ended speculation about a possible run for the Senate, saying on Wednesday that he would not be running for senator in the 2019 polls and would instead support the senatorial bids of fellow Mindanaoans in the Administration slate.
“I am grateful for the support of all the groups and individuals who encouraged me to run for a Senate seat in 2019,” said the third-term congressman from Davao.
“However, after much introspection and after consulting members of my family, I believe that I would be able to better serve the Administration of President Rodrigo Duterte by supporting the candidacies of fellow Mindanaoans who share my desire to bring development to the region and uplift the welfare of our kapwa probinsyanos,” he added.
Among the candidates Nograles said he would be campaigning for are PDP-Laban President Senator Koko Pimentel III, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Bureau of Corrections Director General Bato Dela Rosa, and other senatorial hopefuls from Mindanao.
“I believe that I would be able to better serve the Administration of President Rodrigo Duterte by supporting the candidacies of fellow Mindanaoans who share my desire to bring development to the region.”
Nograles stressed that despite his father’s rivalry with President Rodrigo Duterte, his family had pledged in 2015 to support the President.
“We supported the President in 2015 because we believed then—as we continue to believe now—that a Mindanaoan was needed in Malacañang,” said the Davao native.
“We feel the same way about the Philippine Senate. The Upper Chamber can only benefit from the perspectives of those who have experienced firsthand the challenges faced by our countrymen in the provinces,” added the legislator from Mindanao.
“We supported the President in 2015 because we believed then—as we continue to believe now—that a Mindanaoan was needed in Malacañang,” said the Davao native.”
According to the solon, “paninindigan, pag-unawa sa mga problema ng bayan, at malasakit. Ito ang mga katangian na hinahanap ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang mga pinuno.”
“Our people see this in our President, and this has been validated by the laws he has signed, such as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which I helped pass in Congress,” added Nograles.
“This is the kind of leadership I will continue to support, in whatever capacity—whether as a public official or a private citizen.”
Nograles was touted as a possible senatorial candidate after receiving the endorsement of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and after he was included in the initial list of PDP-Laban senatorial candidates.
He is currently on his third and last term as representative of the 1st District of Davao City, a post that was once occupied by his father, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles.