Duterte appoints Karlo Nograles as Cabinet Secretary

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte swore in yesterday former Davao City first district Rep. Karlo Nograles as Cabinet Secretary, replacing Leoncio Evasco, who has resigned to run for governor of Bohol next year.

Nograles, accompanied by his family, took his oath before the President at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park at around 4 p.m.

“I’m very thankful to the President for giving me this opportunity to help him in his administration,” Nograles told The STAR.

He said he is “still waiting for the marching orders from the President.” He promised to attend today’s Cabinet meeting, which would be his first.

The former congressman said he would examine the executive order issued by the President pertaining to the reorganization of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

“Coming into this office with that major change, I guess all of us will have to adjust accordingly,” he said. He added his entry was timely and “a fresh start” for the Office of the Cabinet Secretary.

“He enjoys the trust and confidence of the appointing power, the President,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

He said the President made the decision to appoint Nograles to the Cabinet as early as two weeks ago.

The secretary to the Cabinet heads the Cabinet secretariat, which assists the President in setting the agenda of Cabinet meetings.

Also sworn in yesterday was Eduardo Año as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. He had held the position of officer-in-charge of the department for a year after his retirement as Armed Forces chief.

Before his appointment to the Cabinet, Nograles was chairman of the House appropriations committee, the body in charge of drafting the national budget and other measures related to state expenditures.

Nograles, on his third and final term as Davao City representative, was first considered as a senatorial candidate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2019 elections. He has decided to drop his senatorial bid, saying he would be able to best serve the Duterte administration by supporting candidates from Mindanao who share his advocacies.

Panelo said Duterte was “likely” to announce new appointees at today’s Cabinet meeting. The appointees will replace Cabinet members who have opted to resign to seek electoral posts in next year’s midterm polls.

Panelo could not confirm reports that Sen. Gringo Honasan would be appointed information and communications technology secretary.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III previously said Honasan would be leaving the Senate to lead the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Sotto said Honasan could still function as a lawmaker until the Commission on Appointments confirms his appointment.

Nograles, meanwhile, thanked President Duterte for giving him the opportunity to serve in the executive department.

“I thank President Duterte for welcoming me to his Cabinet,” the 42-year-old Nograles said, vowing to help steer the administration’s development agenda. – With Delon Porcalla