Karlo Nograles challenges Duterte rule in Davao City, holds miting de avance

DAVAO CITY — Attorney Karlo Nograles held his last campaign rally on Saturday in an attempt to win the position of mayor of Davao City that former President Rodrigo Duterte wants to lead again.

Nograles, a Duterte administration official who is running as an independent, committed to providing medical assistance of at least P25,000 to those in need, as well as free school supplies and uniforms to students.

Nograles’ running mate is incumbent 1st district councilor Bernie Al-Ag, who briefly served as city vice mayor from 2017 to 2019, following the resignation of now congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.

In the May 12, 2025 elections, Nograles and Al-Ag are running against father and son, former president Duterte and incumbent Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.

Karlo’s sister, House Deputy Majority Leader Margarita “Migs” Nograles, is also running as representative of Davao City’s 1st district, challenging Pulong Duterte, who is seeking reelection.

In her speech during the miting de avance, Migs vowed to continue and reinforce the programs she implemented during her stint as PBA party-list representative.

She also emphasized that every vote for the coalition of the Nograles, Al-Ag, and Campos clans will be a vote for the “life and future” of every Davaoeño.

On Friday, the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod held its own miting de avance, where Baste Duterte campaigned on behalf of his father, who is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, for alleged crimes against humanity for his bloody drug war. 

Absent mayor

In an ambush interview, Nograles was asked about his thoughts on the likelihood of an absent mayor in the event that Rodrigo Duterte, his former boss, wins the mayoral election.

“First time itong mangyari sa Davao, so maraming [this will be a first in Davao so there are many] question marks. I think that’s what everybody’s also considering or thinking about at the very least, na [that] if it happens, what next?” Nograles told GMA News Online.

“As a lawyer, marami kasing legal questions that might be asked na readily, hindi natin alam ang sagot [that we don’t know the answer of]. Kasi nga [because] this is a unique situation. It’s very new, it’s never happened before at the very least, not for Davao, and any city or province for that matter,” he added. 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had said that Rodrigo Duterte may still be proclaimed as mayor unless convicted of crimes against humanity.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News

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