An Waray Partylist backs Villanueva’s senatorial bid

TACLOBAN CITY, April 11 (PNA) -- An Waray Partylist has endorsed the candidacy of Liberal Party’s senatorial candidate Joel Villanueva.

Representaives Neil Montejo and Victoria Noel formally announced their support to Villanueva’s senatorial bid on Monday, although their group is known as staunch supporter of the tandem of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.

Villanueva, who belongs to the ruling party, is the former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) head.

Montejo said that they are endorsing Villanueva because he is one of the best performing Cabinet members of the Aquino administration. He was credited for expanding the technical education programs after super typhoon Yolanda.

Noel said that Villanueva’s advocacies are similar to An Waray's - to train people and give them stable jobs.

For his part, former An Waray Rep. Bem Noel said that although he is one of the campaign managers of Poe and Escudero, his endorsement for Villanueva transcends beyond politics.

“Even when we were both running for as partylist representatives before, we wanted each other to win, much more now that An Waray can endorse him as senatorial candidate,” Noel said.

“Friendship with Bem transcends political affiliations. We have known each other for so many years.

Our world does not shrink because of the evil of politics in this country, we are one in pushing for a better Philippines, and more jobs for every Filipino,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva was recently endorsed by the Marcoses and Singzons of Ilocos, Dys of Isabela, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, as well as his political opponent, former Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said that in his stint as TESDA head, about 250,000 students all over the Eastern Visayas completed their technical vocational training.

He was in Tacloban with Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legends to have a friendly game with players from Nula Tula village. The group is called “shoot for yours dreams”, which aims to inspire young people to hold on to their dreams. (PNA)

LAP/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR