Nograles eyed as next Cabinet Secretary: Panelo

FILE: Secretary Salvador Panelo’s Press Briefing (Photo screengrabbed from PCOO)

MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed on Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte is eyeing Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles as the next Cabinet Secretary.

“He is one of those being considered,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing when asked to confirm Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra’s remark that Nograles is the next CabSec.

Panelo said Duterte will name the next Cabinet Secretary right after All Souls’ Day.

“The announcement will be made by the President himself as to the other members of the Cabinet who will replace those who filed their certificates of candidacy,” Panelo said.

Leoncio Evasco Jr. stepped down as Cabinet Secretary to run for Bohol governor in the 2019 mid-term polls.

Other officials of the Duterte administration seeking elective posts next year include Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Guiling Mamondiong, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Bureau of Corrections Director Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa.

Go, Tolentino, dela Rosa and Roque will run for senator while Mamondiong will gun for the gubernatorial post of Lanao del Sur and Cayetano as congressman of Taguig.

Last week, Duterte named former Bureau of Customs (BOC) chief Isidro Lapeña as new TESDA chief while Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr.

replaced Cayetano as DFA and former BOC chief Nicanor Faeldon took over as new BuCor head.

Duterte has yet to appoint his new political adviser and special assistant.