Davao dynasties: Karlo Nograles seeks to end Dutertes' decades-long hold on city
MANILA, Philippines — Karlo Nograles, Rodrigo Duterte’s former Cabinet secretary, wants to do what none have pulled off for over two decades: to beat a Duterte for the Davao mayoralty.
Nograles on Tuesday, October 8, filed his certificate of candidacy for Davao City Mayor before the Commission on Elections a day after he resigned as chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
In his resignation letter, Nograles said he was stepping down to return to Davao City where he hopes “to bring and apply the lessons I have learned in my tenure as the head of the Commission, as well as my two decades in government.” The decision to resign was difficult, he added.
The lawmaker is set to face off against former President Rodrigo Duterte for the position of Davao mayor, which Sebastian Duterte, the former president’s youngest son, currently holds.
Reports on Tuesday indicate that the former president may have already walked back on his candidacy for Davao mayor in favor of a Senate run.
Karlo is the son of Prospero Nograles, who served as House speaker from 2008 to 2010 under then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Prospero is a long-time rival of Duterte who, for three decades, repeatedly attempted to edge him out of the Davao mayoralty.
The old Nograles-Duterte rivalry was temporarily put to rest after Prospero backed Rodrigo for the presidency in 2016.
Karlo was given several plum posts during Rodrigo's presidency from 2016 to 2022. In November 2018, Rodrigo appointed him Cabinet secretary. He also served as acting presidential spokesperson and co-chairperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
In March 2022, Karlo was appointed chairperson of the CSC — a post he was supposed to hold until 2029 before his resignation on Monday.
Since June 2001, Davao City has been led by a member of the Duterte family, marking at least 22 consecutive years in power.
The former president served as the city mayor of Davao from 2001 to 2010, with terms spanning 2001-2004, 2004-2007, and 2007-2010.
He was succeeded by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who was elected for the 2010-2013 term.
After another three-year term as mayor from 2013 to
