Davao Rep. Nograles is new Cabinet secretary

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, is the new secretary to the Cabinet.

His appointment was announced by presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Monday.

Nograles, who had been floated as a potential candidate for senator in the 2019 polls, replaces Leoncio "Jun" Evasco Jr., who is running for governor of Bohol.

Nograles, as chair of the appropriations committee, was in charge of budget bills — particularly the national budget bills for 2017 and 2018.

In September, Nograles managed to keep the chairmanship of the panel amid speculations he would be replaced after refusing the request of House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. (Camarines Sur) to sign a revised committee report reflecting realignments of P52 billion in funds supposedly “parked” in the budget by certain influential administration officials and lawmakers.

READ: Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles keeps budget panel chairmanship

Nograles reportedly did not touch them because they were part of President Rodrigo Duterte's budget proposal. House leaders eventually agreed to realign those funds after consultation with the president.

Nograles, a lawyer, has been representative of Davao City's 1st District since 2010.

Aside from being chair of the appropriations committee, he is also a member of the committees on Constitutional Amendments and on Mindanao Affairs.

He is the son of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles and the brother of Rep. Jericho Nograles (PBA party-list).