Nograles choice for district caretaker ‘carry much weight’ – Andaya

Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Monday said newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles would be consulted on who should be the caretaker of his district.

But Andaya said the former Davao City 1st District congressman and House appropriations committee chair could consider his brother, PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles, as his district’s caretaker.

“The opinion of Secretary Karlo will carry much weight. He has to be consulted because it is the district that he and his father have represented for about 20 years. It can be his brother, who is also a member of Congress,” Andaya said in a statement.

READ: Duterte appoints Karlo Nograles as Cabinet Secretary — Palace

Under House rules, if a chamber member dies, resigns, is permanently incapacitated or lawfully barred from performing the duties of a member, or is lawfully removed from office, vacancies may be filled by:

• for vacancies in the representation of legislative districts, special elections may be called to fill the vacancies; and
• for vacancies in the representation of party-lists, party-list representatives may be chosen to fill the vacancies in the manner provided by law.

The House rules also states that a member elected or designated to fill a vacancy could serve only for the duration of the unexpired term.

In the past, however, the House majority leader could designate a caretaker of the vacated post.

READ: Filling in: House names Belmonte caretaker solon of Batanes

Andaya, meanwhile, said they would name the new appropriations chair soon.

“We have a deep bench. There are many worthy replacements. There are many vice chairmen in the committee who can step up to the bat, provide continuity, who have the institutional memory in budget taking that there will be no disruption in the work of the committee. The new appropriations chair will be announced soon,” Andaya noted.

Nograles took oath as the newest member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet last November 5. He replaced Jun Evasco, who filed his candidacy for governor of Bohol in next year’s elections.  /kga