Joel Villanueva announces 2016 Senate bid, gets endorsement from PNoy

(Updated 5:54 p.m.) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva on Tuesday afternoon declared that he is running for senator in next year's elections.

Villanueva made the declaration during a gathering of technical vocational students at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City dubbed "Scholars’ Day." The event also coincided with the birthday of Joel's father, Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

"May lakas ako ng loob na suungin ang isang mas malaking hamon na maglingkod sa bayan. Ako po si Joel Villanueva. Nag-a-apply ako ng trabaho bilang maging kinatawan niyo doon sa Senado," he said.

Villanueva also announced that he is resigning from his post, trusting that TESDA "will be in good hands."

President Benigno Aquino III, who has been a close friend to Villanueva since their days at the House of Representatives, was the guest of honor during the event.

Villanueva recalled how he was appointed to be part of President Aquino's "dream team" in 2010.

"Nagpapasalamat ako dahil ipinasa sa 'kin ni Pangulong Aquino ang bola ng techvoc sector... Kumbaga sa basketball, parang 'di puwede magmintis ng tira," he said.

PNoy endorsement

President Aquino endorsed Villanueva’s senatorial bid, describing the TESDA chief a “star player” in governance.

“Si Joel po, isang tapat, masipag, at maaasahang lingkod-bayan. Ito pong si Joel nung nag-aaral pa ay isa nang kilalang atleta. Saan man po siya mapabilang na koponan, itinuturing si Joel na star player,” he said.

“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 added.

According to the president, Villanueva had already considered running for senator in the 2013 midterm elections. Aquino, however, asked Villanueva to stay in his post.

“At palagay ko noong sumang-ayon siya, talaga naman pong marami ang nakinabang dahil may Joel Villanueva tayong nagtimon sa TechVoc,” Aquino added.

Also present in the event were several congressmen and Cabinet secretaries, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman, Senator Bam Aquino, and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto.

Villanueva earlier claimed that some LP stalwarts identified with party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II want him out of the LP’s senatorial ticket. He suspects this is the same group behind the graft charges filed against him in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

The TESDA chief had also previously admitted his hesitance to join a senatorial line-up with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recommended the filing of charges against him.

Although she has yet to be announced as a member of the LP slate, De Lima said she’s certain that she will be included in the administration party's senatorial line-up.

The LP has set to bare its complete senatorial line-up on Friday. —KBK, GMA News