EXCERPT:

DAVAO NEWS: The fight to watch is the match between Mabel Sunga and Karlo Nograles. Early on, Karlo was high on the surveys, simply because there were no perceived congressional candidates. Mabel however started to show luster in the surveys when Duterte hinted she will be his candidate in the First District. While some intimate businessmen friends of Duterte had been egging him to run for congress against Karlo, the mayor thought Mabel can handle Karlo with just a little help from him. But the young Nograles is no pushover.

What I can say this early is that the council candidates of Team Karlo (TK) are lightweights and some who are perceived to be heavyweights are in reality political sinkers. The pain in the neck of Karlo and his father Boy is Barangay Capt. Bert Olanolan who, I was told, used to be in the sanctum-sanctorum of the Nograleses but was jettisoned unceremoniously.

Mylene Garcia, the sister of Congressman Vincent Garcia, is up for a tough fight against Dado Mahipus and Danny Dayanghirang. Businesswoman Joji Bian, a disciple of Speaker Boy Nograles, is also running. A certain Alcebar too.

Of the six who are running in the third congressional district, only one is virtually unknown. Incumbent Sid Ungab is facing formidable opponents, among them Ruy Lopez, Bert Al-ag, Vic Advincula, and Greg Canada. To them, may the best man wins.

Well, the battle lines had been drawn. Soon we will hear the clashes of issues. For some time, Nograles has been throwing the kitchen sink including the toilet bowls at Mayor Duterte. This time we will see how Digong will retaliate. A wag from General Santos City whom I met in Singapore last week told me that the Dutertes appear to be on the upper hand. I asked him why. He explained that in Davao City there are three types of voters, namely: those who love Duterte, those who really support Duterte for the stable peace and order condition in the city, and those who doubts Nograles can keep that stability which Davao City enjoys today.