Pumanaw nitong Huwebes ang alkalde ng Bocaue, Bulacan na si Eleanor “Joni” Villanueva. Nitong nakaraang Abril, naging laman ng mga balita ang alkalde dahil sa pagbili niya ng tone-toneladang gulay sa Mt. Province para tulungan ang mga magsasaka na apektado ang kabuhayan dahil sa ipinatupad na lockdown.
Nagpaabot ng pakikiramay si PDP-LABAN Executive Director Ron Munsayac sa pamilya ng namayapang alkalde.
“The PDPLABAN offers its condolences, sympathies, and prayers for our beloved partymate Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna. She has always been one of our exemplar local chief executives as evidenced by her dynamic leadership in Bocaue, Bulacan,” saad ni Munsayac sa Twitter post.
“We also enjoin our partymates & friends to pray for strength for the Villanueva family led by DS Bro. Eddie, Sen. Joel Villanueva, and Mayor Joni's husband Cong. Sherwin Tugna,” dagdag niya.
Nag-post naman sa Twitter ang kapatid ni Mayor Villanueva na si Senator Joel Villanueva, ng itim na larawan sa kaniyang Twitter na walang caption.
Sa isa pa niyang post, inihayag ng senador ang kalungkutan sa pagkawala ng kapatid.
"Today Bocaue lost its finest public servant. Mayor Joni was relentlessly serving Bocaueños during this lockdown despite her medical condition, which eventually caused her life. She’s more than a public servant to me, she’s my role model. Will terribly miss her.#gonetoosoon."
Today Bocaue lost its finest public servant. Mayor Joni was relentlessly serving Bocaueños during this lockdown despite her medical condition, which eventually caused her life. She’s more than a public servant to me, she’s my role model. Will terribly miss her ???? #gonetoosoon
— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) May 28, 2020
Sa Facebook ng Jesus is Lord (JIL) Church na itinatag ng kanilang ama na si CIBAC Party-list Representative Eddie Villanueva, nakasaad na "sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia" ang dahilan ng pagpanaw ng alkalde.
Sa naturang post, inilarawan nila si Mayor Villanueva, na "an exemplary leader, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and woman of vision and action."
"In fact, even as she was sick, she was working and serving and caring for her constituents—involved even in the packing and distribution of relief goods until her body stopped her to do so," saad sa post.
Nagpaabot naman ng pakikiramay kay Sen. Villanueva ang kaniyang kaibigan at kapwa senador na si Sonny Angara.
“Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva was a very nice person and dedicated mom, wife, and public servant. She will be missed by so many. Rest in peace,” sabi ni Angara.
READ: Bocaue-LGU, namakyaw ng gulay sa Mt. Province para gawing relief goods; mga magsasaka, natuwa
Nitong nakaraang Abril, naging laman ng mga balita si Mayor Villanueva dahil sa pagbili niya ng tone-toneladang gulay sa Mt. Province, para tulungan ang mga magsasaka na apektado ang kabuhayan dahil sa ipinatupad na lockdown.
Ang mga biniling gulay ay ipinamahagi naman ng alkalde sa kaniyang mga kababayan bilang bahagi ng ayuda.
Nanalong alkalde si Villanueva nitong nakaraang halalan sa pamamagitan ng "coin toss," ang sistemang ginamit ng Commission on Elections kapag nagtabla sa bilang ng boto ang dalawang kandidato.
Nitong lang nakaraang Marso, pumanaw ang ina ng alkalde na si Dory Villanueva.—FRJ, GMA News
