DAVAO CITY, Philippines?The saying that only fools do not change their minds was proven here once again when House Speaker Prospero Nograles on Saturday filed his certificate of candidacy in the city?s mayoral race next year.

Nograles had consistently denied rumors in the past that he was eyeing Davao City leadership. He was once trashed by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for that post.

But on Saturday, Nograles finally confirmed speculation he was running against the daughter of Duterte?Vice Mayor Sarah Duterte?in 2010.

After attending Mass at the San Pedro Cathedral, Nograles went to the office of the Commission on Elections and handed over his certificate of candidacy for city mayor.

Nograles? running mate is former mayor Benjamin de Guzman, who, as an ally of Duterte, also defeated him in the 1998 mayoral race.

Asked what made him change his mind, Nograles said recent meetings with his supporters convinced him to challenge Duterte?s rule in the city.

Nograles, a close ally of President Arroyo, said he was offering a new kind of governance for the people of the city.

He said his set of priorities include health services, education, sports and women and children.

?My term as representative of the first district of Davao has opened to me the avenues for serving the people in a much broader scale,? he said.

Asked what his chances were of succeeding against Duterte?s daughter when the father had trashed him before, Nograles said: ?I will rely on my strength not on the weakness of my opponents.?

But Nograles admitted that criticism from several sectors of the way Duterte has been running the city could work in his favor.

?The religious sector has condemned the utter disregard for the sanctity of life and the summary executions being perpetrated with the tacit approval of public officials? I have had dialogues with property owners, who are bleeding from the imposition of oppressive taxes, which are confiscatory at the whim of the city council,? Nograles said.

?I have conferred with the men and women in the police and the military, whose accomplishments have been belittled by the City Hall. They feel insulted with the inference that only one man is responsible for the peace and order of the city,? he added.

Nograles also announced the candidacy of his son, Karlo, for the congressional race in the first district.

Although the Duterte camp has not confirmed it yet, there are reports that the feisty mayor, who is on his last term as the city?s chief executive, would challenge the younger Nograles? candidacy.