Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2016/metro-manila2/05/09/2015-sen-villanueva-joel-jc.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Senatorial candidate, former TESDA head Joel Villanueva Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA – While pre-election <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/03/16/5-newcomers-in-senate-in-new-abs-cbn-pulse-asia-survey" target="_blank">surveys</a> had indicated he was poised to get a Senate seat, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva&#x27;s ascent to the top of the Senate race comes as a surprise.Villanueva is currently <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/09/16/joel-villanueva-leads-senate-race" target="_blank">at the top</a> spot of the Senate race, getting 15,560,496 with 64.56% of votes already in. He was ahead of consistent survey topnotcher, Senate President Franklin Drilon, who got 15,445,155.Speaking to ABS-CBN News, election law expert Rudyard Avila III said Villanueva&#x27;s case is reminiscent of what happened to Senator Grace Poe, who surprisingly topped the Senate race in 2013.&#x27;&#x27;That&#x27;s one of the things na hindi mo nakukuha sa survey. Ganyan din ang nangyari kay Grace Poe last (elections). She was doing well sa surveys, mga 6 hanggang 8, tapos biglang number 1. So may precedent na tayo dyan,&#x27;&#x27; Avila said.Avila attributed Villanueva&#x27;s surprising surge to the top to his PR strategy and the backing of charismatic group Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church, which is led by his father, Eddie.&#x27;&#x27;Malaking bagay yung sa TESDA at &#x27;yung religious movement ng tatay niya. Malaking factor &#x27;yan na &#x27;di nakukuha ng survey -- mga concentrated votes,&#x27;&#x27; he said.&#x27;&#x27;Plus madaling i-recall ang pagiging &#x27;TESDAman&#x27; niya.&quot;Villanueva pitched for jobs and skills training, amid high underemployment rates. <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameBorder="0" height="627" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjoelvillanueva.org%2Fposts%2F1031126996945999%3A0&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe>Avila, however, advised Villanueva to carefully plan his next political move in the wake of his impending Senate victory. He said Villanueva must first build his credentials in the Senate before aspiring for a higher national post.He said Villanueva must learn from the experiences of Poe, her running mate Francis Escudero, as well as Senator Bongbong Marcos and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.&#x27;&#x27;He might be tempted to run [for a higher post] pero kailangan pahinog muna kasi in 2022, Grace Poe might be ripe. Dun sa vice-presidency, Chiz Escudero started with 41 percent, Bongbong was only 1 percent and Leni Robredo was nowhere. Ngayong tingnan mo,&#x27;&#x27; he said.A former member of the House of Representatives, the younger Villanueva may yet achieve what his father failed to do so in previous elections. The older Villanueva, whose bids for the presidency in 2004 and 2010 failed, also ran for senator in 2013 but didn&#x27;t make it. In a post on his Twitter account, Villanueva expressed his gratitude to all those who voted for him, saying his current ranking in the senatorial race is a &quot;great blessing.&quot;&#x27;&#x27;This is such a great blessing! Am still in awe. Will continue to pray &amp; stay hopeful that God who began a good work in me will complete it!&quot; he said.

While pre-election surveys had indicated he was poised to get a Senate seat, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva's ascent to the top of the Senate race comes as a surprise.

Joel Villanueva surprises, does a Grace Poe

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Joel Villanueva surprises, does a Grace Poe

Dharel Placido,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 10, 2016 02:08 AM PHT

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Updated May 10, 2016 03:41 PM PHT

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