Attorney Karlo Nograles stood firm on his decision to run for Mayor of Davao City, stating that the people of Davao deserve a choice in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
In an interview on Dos Por Dos on Tuesday, Nograles admitted that the decision was "not easy," as it meant leaving his position at the Civil Service Commission (CSC), where he served for over two years. Despite this, he chose to return and serve Davao.
"Mas humila sa akin [pagtakbo] ang bumalik sa Davao at mabigyan sila ng choice ngayong darating na eleksyon. Naninindigan ako sa desisyon ko para sa Davao," said the former CSC chairman.
For a long time, Nograles said that Davao voters have not had much choice in elections.
"Maliwanag sa akin kung bakit ako tumatakbo—para mabigyan ng choice ang Davao City para sa pagbabago. Regardless of sino ang makakasama ko sa balota, marami nang eleksyon na wala silang choice," he added.
Nograles emphasized that the people of Davao are calling for swift improvements as the city faces many challenges today. He also dismissed notions of political family rivalry, saying the decision will ultimately rest in the hands of the people.
"Tanggalin na natin sa isip na ito ay apelyido vs. apelyido. Palagay ko ibalik natin ang tiwala sa tao. Para ito sa publiko—ibalik ang limelight sa mga taga-Davao. Nakasalalay sa kanila ang lahat, kami ay nandito lang naman," he said.
As a mayoralty candidate, Nograles stressed that Davao needs support from the national government. He cited flooding as an example, pointing to a JAICA report that estimates Davao City needs ₱20 billion to address immediate flooding issues, with a long-term solution costing around ₱60 billion.
Nograles officially filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) on Tuesday, setting the stage for a face-off with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who served as Davao's longtime mayor.
Duterte filed his COC on Monday.
Davao City, the third-largest city in the Philippines, has a voting population of over one million.
On Monday, Nograles submitted his resignation as the chairman of the CSC to Malacañang.
Nograles, a former lawmaker, served as Cabinet Secretary under the Duterte administration from 2018 to 2022 and briefly took on the role of acting Presidential Spokesperson from 2021 to 2022.
