Duterte eyeing Nograles as Cabinet Secretary

Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles is among President Rodrigo Duterte’s “leading” choices to be the newest member of his Cabinet, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Nograles is one of the candidates for the post vacated by Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr., who recently filed his candidacy for governor of Bohol in the 2019 midterm elections.

“He’s (Nograles) one of those being considered (for the Cabinet),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Asked who are the others being considered by Duterte, Panelo said he didn’t know but he stressed that Nograles is the President’s “leading” choice.

“I don’t know the others but I know and I’ve heard that he’s (Nograles) one of those leading,” he said.

Nograles is currently serving his third and final term as congressman.

He was initially included in the possible senatorial slate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2019 polls. However, he recently announced that he will not run in the coming elections.  /muf