Joel Villanueva announces senatorial bid

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Secretary Joel Villanueva on Tuesday announced he would run for senator in the 2016 national elections.

“Ako po si Joel Villanueva, certified barista, mag-aaplay bilang kinatawan ninyo sa Senado,” Villanueva said in a Tesda event at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

(I am Joel Villanueva, certified barrister, applying to be part of the Senate).

“May lakas po ako ng loob na suungin ang isang mas malaking hamon ng paglilingkod sa bayan. May lakas po ako ng loob na ipagpatuloy ang masayang pagbabago,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino III, who was the guest speaker in the event, heaped praises on Villanueva, indirectly endorsing him.

“Buo ang tiwala ko: Si Joel ang pinunong kailangan ng bayan, na tiyak nating mas marami pang matutulungan at mapapaunlad na kabuhayan, oras na maluklok sa mas mataas na katungkulan,” Aquino said.

“Iba po talaga kapag ang namumuno ay gaya ni Secretary Joel Villanueva. Si Joel po, isang tapat, masipag, at maaasahang lingkod-bayan,” Aquino added.

The President outlined the achievements of Villanueva during his stint as the Tesda secretary.

In 2014, Aquino said the employment rate of Tesda graduates was at 71.9 percent compared to the 28.5 percent in 2008 during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Hindi ako nagtatakang marami ang bilib sa kakayahan niya, dahil sa totoo lang, marami na siyang napatunayan at patutunayan pa,” he said.

Villanueva is reportedly included in the senatorial slate of the ruling Liberal Party.

Villanueva earlier said that he is reluctant to join the LP because of his rift with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who has included his name on the list of lawmakers who allegedly misused their pork barrel funds.

De Lima has also announced his senatorial run in next year’s election.

The LP is set to announce their senatorial line-up on October 9.

Originally posted as of 4:23 PM | Tuesday, October 6, 2015