Duterte pays last respects to late speaker Nograles

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The feud between President Duterte and the late former House speaker Prospero Nograles was a constant in the political scene here for a long time, as it was always Duterte vs. Nograles in Davao politics, especially in the race for city mayor. 

But the long-standing rivalry between the two politicians came to a close when the President paid his last respects to Nograles the other night at the Heritage Park in Taguig City. Their rivalry – often described by locals as “fierce” – took a sudden turn when Duterte decided in 2015 to run for president in the 2016 elections.

It was then that Nograles and his family, including his sons Karlo and Jericho, went to Duterte’s side and campaigned for his presidential run. 

The elder Nograles, at 71 years, succumbed to illness Saturday without realizing his long-time wish to become mayor of Davao City because Duterte kept winning the mayoralty seat. Presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio also defeated the former speaker when they ran against each other in 2010.

But Nograles, who was a second placer in the 1971 Bar examination, became the first House speaker from Mindanao in 2007.

Karlo is now secretary to the Duterte Cabinet.

Both families are not really strangers to each other as Nograles’ wife Rhodora is a cousin of the President. Both belong to the Bendigo clan of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Duterte expressed his deep sadness over the demise of Nograles.?“His legacy as a leader who used his voice to speak on behalf of the Filipino people will continue to inspire other politicians and leaders who are committed to serving their countrymen,” the President said. “May he find eternal peace and repose in the arms of our loving Father in heaven.”?“It is also my prayer that the Lord Almighty ease your pain and that you will find solace and strength during this difficult time,” the President told the family.

Meanwhile, former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile mourned Nograles’ passing as he praised him for his leadership of the House of Representatives during the time that Enrile was Senate president from 2008 to 2010.

“I was very sad when I heard yesterday about the death of former Speaker Prospero ‘Boy’ Nograles. I knew him very well as a professional. He was quite good as a lawyer,” Enrile said. 

“When I was Senate president, he was Speaker of the House. One of the very delicate matters that we handled together was the declaration of martial law by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Maguindanao when there was a massacre there involving a very well-known and powerful family,” Enrile said, referring to the bloody Ampatuan massacre which claimed the lives of 58 victims. 

“Without much problem, we went through that episode in our history quite well,” Enrile recalled. “Speaker Nograles and I, when we both led the two chambers of Congress, cooperated in many ways in order to make the work of legislation in the country quite smooth and without any rancor.” 

Both Nograles and Enrile were instrumental in passing landmark laws such as the Freedom of Information Act and the Philippine Competition Act aimed at promoting a competitive market. 

“I am going to pray for him and I wish that he will find repose in the life where he will be hereafter forever. Goodbye, my dear friend,” Enrile said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano