The Bulacan Mayor Who Won By a Coin Toss Passes Away

Bocaue, Bulacan Mayor Eleanor "Joni" Villanueva-Tugna has passed away at the age of 42.

She's survived by her husband, former CIBAC Party-list Representative Sherwin Tugna, and four children.

Villanueva-Tugna is the younger sister of Senator Joel Villanueva. She's also the daughter of House Deputy Speaker and CIBAC Party-list Representative Bro. Eddie Villanueva, the founder of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide.

The mayor stepped into her position in 2016, notably after she won through a coin toss.

During the elections, she got the same amount of votes—16,694—as her opponent Jim Valerio. According to Resolution No. 10083 of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), candidates that get the same amount of votes will have to participate in a three-round coin toss.

An official statement by JIL says Villanueva passed around 5:06 p.m. on May 28 due to sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia. The mayor was also the executive director of JIL.

The news was first confirmed through a Twitter post by PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac. Villanueva was a member of the ruling party PDP-Laban. Munsayac offered his condolences and prayers while describing her as an "exemplar local chief executive" of the party.

Munsayac also offered prayers to the Villanueva family, particularly for Bro. Eddie, Senator Joel, and former Congressman Sherwin. He said: "We also enjoin our partymates & friends to pray for strength for the Villanueva family led by DS Bro. Eddie, Sen. @senatorjoelv, and Mayor Joni's husband Cong. Sherwin Tugna."

In April, the mayor made headlines for purchasing tons of vegetables to help out farmers in the Mountain Province. The vegetables were distributed by Villanueva to Bocaue residents as aid during the enhanced community quarantine.

This story originally appeared on Pep.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.