MANILA – After initially declining, businessman Carlos "Sonny" Dominguez III has accepted the offer of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to join his Cabinet as secretary of finance, the incoming president's spokesman said Wednesday night.

Earlier Wednesday, Dominguez declined the offer due to personal reasons, according to lawyer Salvador Panelo.

But hours later, Dominguez changed his mind and accepted the Cabinet post, Panelo said.

In a previous interview, Duterte revealed that Dominguez had misgivings about his offer and he was hoping that the hotelier would reconsider.

"He had so many misgivings in the past about my offer, but I hope he would reconsider and accept it. He's going to get the finance department," Duterte said.

Dominguez, owner of Davao's Marco Polo Hotel, among others, is a childhood friend of the presumptive president.

“He's my boyhood chum and neighbor namin. We grew up together,” Duterte said.

Dominguez had stints in the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the administration of President Cory Aquino. - with reports from Hernel Tocmo and Greanne Mendoza, ABS-CBN News