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Villanueva weeps during session as Senate mourns death of his sibling

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/06/01/20200601-villanueva.jpg?ext=.jpg "/><figcaption>FILE PHOTO: Sen. Joel Villanueva weeps during the wake of his mother who died 2 months before his sister Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna passed away. Photo from Sen. Joel Villanueva&#x27;s official Instagram page</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Sen. Joel Villanueva on Monday wept during a Senate session as his fellow lawmakers condoled with his family over the passing of his sister, Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna, last week.The chamber adopted Senate Resolution No. 433 expressing the legislative body&#x27;s &quot;profound sympathy and sincerest condolences&quot; to the Villanueva family.&quot;She was admired for her hands-on approach to managing the day-to-day operations of the municipal government during the COVID-19 pandemic despite being diagnosed with vasculitis January of this year,&quot; Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said in his sponsorship speech.&quot;She is a true hero to the people of Bocaue and a blessing to the people whose lives she has touched,&quot; he said.&quot;She even waded through flood waters with our colleague Sen. Nancy Binay when flash floods hit the province,&quot; added Sen. Sonny Angara, who previously worked with the late mayor&#x27;s husband, former CIBAC Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna.Other senators extended their sympathies to Sen. Villanueva, who also lost his mother about 2 months ago.&quot;She was such a young and promising public servant [but] indeed, God has His own ways, Joel,&quot; Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said.&quot;Let us accept that and I am sure the Mayor will be happy to see us perform our jobs as public servants because during her lifetime that was how she dedicated herself,&quot; he said.&quot;We take comfort in knowing that Mayor Joni is know with the Lord Almighty, our Father, and I can imagine the Lord saying to her, &#x27;Well done, good and faithful servant,&quot; Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Villanueva-Tugna&#x27;s PDP-Laban partymate said.&quot;It takes an awful lot of courage to face the reality that we are going to lose someone... Sometimes, they come one after the other. I&#x27;ve experienced that... but as the Bible saying goes, &#x27;This, too, shall pass,&#x27;&quot; Sen. Richard Gordon said.Senators Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Cynthia Villar also gave comforting words as Sen. Villanueva was heard weeping in the background.&quot;Ang hirap na makita ka ngayon na umiiyak at para sa aming lahat na hindi ka namin mapuntahan ngayon physically at mayakap,&quot; Hontiveros said.&quot;During this very difficult moment, our prayers are with you and your family... Narito lang kami, nakikiramay sa inyo at sa buong pamilya ninyo,&quot; Pangilinan said.&quot;I know how difficult it is because you lost you mom months ago, and now you lost your sister... Our deepest condolences from me and my family,&quot; Villar said.Villanueva, who spoke in between sobs, thanked his colleagues.&quot;Devastated is an understatement... To be honest, my heart has been shattered into a million pieces,&quot; he said.&quot;[But] Our mom would always tell us, &#x27;The clay cannot and can never question the potter.&#x27;&quot;The 42-year-old Bocaue mayor died on May 28, 2020 due to sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia as she continued to serve in communities during the coronavirus pandemic despite suffering from vasculitis.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/29/20/true-public-servant-senators-mourn-death-of-bocaue-mayor-joni-villanueva-tugna">‘True public servant’: Senators mourn death of Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna</a></li></ul>

MANILA - Sen. Joel Villanueva on Monday wept during a Senate session as his fellow lawmakers condoled with his family over the passing of his sister, Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna, last week.

MANILA - Sen. Joel Villanueva on Monday wept during a Senate session as his fellow lawmakers condoled with his family over the passing of his sister, Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna, last week.

Villanueva weeps during session as Senate mourns death of his sibling

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Villanueva weeps during session as Senate mourns death of his sibling

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 01, 2020 09:49 PM PHT

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Joni Villanueva

Joni Villanueva death

Joel Villanueva

Senate

Bocaue Bulacan mayor

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