Palace mourns death of former Speaker Prospero Nograles

Malacañang conveyed its condolences and sympathies to the family of former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, whose death was announced on Saturday. He was 71.

"The Palace is saddened by the demise of former Speaker Prospero C. Nograles and wishes to express its deepest sympathies and condolences to his bereaved wife, Rhodora, and son, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, as well as his siblings and their families," Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said the late Speaker was a "pride of Mindanao" and was "one of the leading lights of the political leaders in Mindanao."

"He made history when he became the first elected Mindanaoan who assumed the leadership of the House of Representatives, an august body where he also served for five terms representing the 1st District of Davao City," the statement reads.

"Former Speaker Nograles will certainly be missed by his loved ones, friends and constituents. May eternal rest grant unto him and perpetual light shine upon him," it adds.

Nograles, who has served as the representative of Davao City's First District for several terms, was House Speaker from 2008 to 2010.

He and President Rodrigo Duterte were once known to be political adversaries.

Nograles ran against Duterte in the 1992 polls for the Davao City mayoral race and also opposed Duterte’s candidacy in the 2001 elections but lost in both instances.

In the 2010 elections, Nograles ran against Duterte’s daughter and reelectionist Davao City Sara for the Davao City mayoral race but lost, just the same.

In December 2015, Duterte did not field an opponent against Nograles’ son, Karlo, who was at the time running for this third and last term in the 2016 polls.

Nograles and his son supported Duterte’s 2016 presidential bid, and Karlo now serves as President Duterte’s Cabinet Secretary.

The President's son, former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte, had extended his condolences to the Mindanaoan politician in a Facebook post.

Mayor Sara also offered a moment of silence to the late Speaker at the closing ceremony of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa on Saturday.

Cabinet Secretary Nograles said his father's wake will be in Chapel 1 at Heritage Park, Fort Bonifacio, BGC Taguig.

He said viewing is scheduled to start Sunday (May 5) until Monday (May 6), before his remains are transported to Davao. —Margaret Claire Layug/LBG, GMA News