TESDA chief Villanueva grateful for inclusion in LP Senate slate, but...

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva is grateful for President Benigno Aquino III’s support for his planned senatorial run in 2016, but is uncomfortable running alongside Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

At the sidelines of the plenary budget deliberations at the House of Representatives on Thursday, Villanueva remained coy about his planned senatorial bid, saying he didn’t want to preempt any announcement that will be made in the coming days.

However, he admitted to feeling wary about his inclusion in the Liberal Party’s (LP) senatorial line-up, which may also include De Lima.

"I will not be hypocrite to say I’ll be comfortable, but at the end of the day, alam natin kung ano ang calling natin," he said when asked if he will be comfortable running with De Lima, who ordered the filing of a graft complaint against him in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

Villanueva, a former party-list lawmaker, had earlier said he will not join a political party where some members see him as a “criminal.”

Asked on whether his previous sentiment has changed due to Aquino’s announcement of his inclusion in LP’s senatorial slate, Villanueva said: "Wala pong nagbago sa aking paninindigan. Wala ring nagbago sa aking sinabi na 'di ako lalahok sa halalan unless may blessing ni PNoy."

On Wednesday, Aquino said Villanueva will be running for senator under LP and dismissed as “intrigue” the reports that the TESDA chief was not keen on joining the LP slate.

Villanueva, a former party-list lawmaker, had earlier claimed that some LP stalwarts identified with party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II want him out of its senatorial ticket.

He suspects this is the same group who was behind the graft charges filed against him in connection with the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Though he is grateful for Aquino’s support, Villanueva said he is open to being adopted by another party as a senatorial candidate.

“Politics is addition. Halos lahat ng mga tumatakbo kaibigan natin. Of course, we welcome the idea na tayo ay i-adopt ng kahit sino o kahit anong partido,” he said.

Villanueva said he will make an announcement about his political plans on October 6, a day after the LP is expected to unveil its senatorial lineup. —KBK, GMA News