Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Eleanor 'Joni' Villanueva-Tugna passes away

Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Eleanor "Joni" Villanueva-Tugna succumbed to bacterial pneumonia today, May 28.

Mayor Joni is the wife of Cong. Sherwin Tugna. She is the daughter of Bro. Eddie Villanueva, founder of Jesus Is Lord; and sister of Senator Joel Villanueva.

Following the death of Mayor Joni, Senator Villanueva posted a black photo without caption on Twitter.

When she ran for the post in 2016, Joni was proclaimed mayor through a toss coin following a tie with another candidate for the same position. The toss coin is a method used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve a tie between political bets.

Dory Villanueva, mother of the late mayor, also died in March at the age of 73.

The JIL Executive Management Board issued an official statement on the demise of Mayor Joni:

"An exemplary leader, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and woman of vision and action;

"Such was Mayor Joni Villanueva Tugna as JIL's Executive Director. She dreamed big dreams for God and the ministry and worked day and night to bring those to fruition. In fact, she was the brains behind JIL's many breakthrough programs, systems, structures, and infrastructures, some of which include the establishment of JIL's Executive Management Board and the renovation of Camp Praise Valley;

"Then, God led her to the path of public service. As mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan, she was also a pioneer and trailblazer: innovative in her methods and humane in her actions;

"That is why our hearts are grieving that today, at 5:08 pm, our dear Mayor Joni, because of sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia, has left this world and has come home to her Father;

"As shocking as it is, we trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty and believe that Mayor Joni is now at the best place in the world: in the arms of our Lord;

"While we grieve her passing, let us also not forget to keep praying for the whole Villanueva and Tugna families as they go through this emotional ordeal. Let us keep covering them in our prayers and seek God's comforting hand to be upon them now more than ever before."