Joel Villanueva says Mayor Joni chose to serve the people despite weak immune system

Senator Joel Villanueva said his sister Mayor Joni of Bocaue, Bulacan lost her life serving the people despite her medical condition.

"She got this vasculitis this January, compromised po 'yung immune system niya. Unfortunately, during lockdown she feels she needs to go out and personally check everything," Villanueva said in a message to reporters.

"Infection crept in and cost her life. She literally died because of her passion to serve her people, without fanfare," he added.

Mayor Joni's effort to buy 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, was lauded by many in April.

She succumbed to sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia on Thursday, according to the Jesus is Lord Church which was founded by her father CIBAC party-list Representative Eddie Villanueva.

The senator, who recently lost his mother Dory, shared the pain of losing his beloved sister too.

"She's closest to me among my siblings, she would visit the Senate and would always be in awe [of] how we can serve our country and people," Villanueva said.

"This is worse than the worst feeling. She left four kids, three years old youngest who asked me last night, 'What happened to mommy?' I never thought na posible pa lang kidlatan ng dalawang beses ang isang puso," he added. — RSJ, GMA News