Aquino says Joel Villanueva will run with LP

Tesda chief Joel Villanueva. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net

ALTHOUGH the Liberal Party (LP) has yet to officially announce its senatorial slate for the 2016 elections, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday clarified that Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) head Joel Villanueva is running under the ruling party’s banner.

Aquino, who presided over the LP National Convention in Quezon City, dismissed reports on Villanueva not joining LP as just “intrigue.”

“Definitely he is with us. Pero i-a-announce natin lahat next week ‘yan (But we’re going to announce all of that next week),” he said.

Villanueva earlier claimed that there are people within the administration circle who want him out of the group.

READ: Joel Villanueva: Some LP forces want me out of admin loop

He also said he is hesitant to be in the same slate as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima who recommended that charges be filed against him and other public officials tagged in the pork barrel scam.

De Lima, along with Villanueva, is among the personalities being considered for the LP senate slate.

Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte said that while he likes Villanueva and admires his father Jesus is Lord leader Eddie Villanueva, he also considers De Lima “an outstanding person.”

“She has conviction. She has guts,” he said.

Belmonte said both are being considered by LP. However, he said he was disappointed at Villanueva for saying he can’t be in the same slate with De Lima.

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