Nograles drops Senate bid

Davao 1st District Rep. Karlo Nograles on Wednesday dropped his plan to run for Senate in the 2019 midterm elections.

The House appropriations panel chair and nephew of President Rodrigo Duterte said in a statement that he 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,” the third-term congressman said.

READ: Nograles says PDP-Laban ’seriously considering’ him for 2019 senate slate

“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 regions and uplift the welfare of our kapwa probinsyanos,” he added.

Nograles said he would instead campaign for PDP-Laban President Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, and other senatorial hopefuls from Mindanao.

Nograles was touted as a possible senatorial candidate after he received the endorsement of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and after he was included in the initial list of PDP-Laban senatorial bets. /ee