Filtered By: Topstories
News

Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Joni Villanueva dies


Mayor Eleanor “Joni” Villanueva of Bocaue, Bulacan passed away on Thursday.

PDP LABAN Executive Director Ron Munsayac extended his condolences to the loved ones of the public servant.

“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,” he said in a 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,” he added.

Several minutes later, Senator Joel Villanueva posted an uncaptioned black photo on Twitter.

Senator Sonny Angara also symphatized with his fellow lawmaker.

“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,” Angara said.

In April, Villanueva was in the news for buying tons of vegetables from Mt. Province farmers, which she distributed to her constituents as part of the local government's assistance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Villanueva hails from a family of politicians, which includes her brother, Joel, a senator and her father, Jesus is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva, a member of the House of Representatives, representing the CIBAC party-list.  Her husband, Sherwin Tugna, was also former party-list representative.

During her first run for the post in 2016, she was proclaimed mayor through a coin toss, a method used by the Commission on Elections to resolve a tie between two candidates.

Dory Villanueva, the mother of the late mayor, also passed away at the age of 73 in March. —LDF, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT