“I am 50 percent Ilonggo and I can relate to the needs of Negros Occidental,” new House Speaker Prospero Nograles said last night.

Nograles, in a telephone interview with the DAILY STAR facilitated by his close friend, Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District), said his father, Erico Teruel Nograles, is from Tigbauan, Iloilo , and also has roots in Pontevedra and La Carlota City in Negros Occidental.

Nograles, who speaks Ilonggo, said he has many friends among the Negros Occidental congressmen and also has relatives in the province.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia is a third degree relative, he said.

His speakership was backed by six of seven congressmen from Negros Occidental – Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District), Jose Carlos Lacson (3rd District), Ferrer, Ignacio Arroyo (5th District), Genaro Alvarez (6th District) and Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ).

Nograles said a transition group was being formed for a smooth transition of the speakership to him.

“This is purely administrative. We have committed not to touch the chairmanships, the vice chairmanships, except for some committees,” he said.

He also stressed the need to heal the wounds caused by change in house leadership “so that we can work better as legislators.”

Nograles obtained his law degree from Ateneo de Manila University (1967-1971), and placed second in the 1971 Bar Examination with an average of 90.95 percent.

He has been a member of the House of Representatives in the 8th Congress (1987-1992), 10th Congress (1995-1998) and 12th Congress (2001-2004).*CPG

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