BOCAUE, Bulacan鈥擳he late Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna was buried on Tuesday afternoon at Krus sa Wawa Memorial Park here.
Relatives, friends and supporters paid their last respects to Tugna who passed away on May 28 at 42.
She succumbed to sepsis secondary to bacterial pneumonia at St. Luke鈥檚 Hospital in Global City in Taguig. Her death occurred two months after her mother, Dory Villanueva, died of a lingering ailment.
About 30,000 people joined the funeral march to the gravesite from Jesus Is Lord Church in Barangay Bunlo where her wake was held for nearly two weeks.
Banners carrying messages of admiration for her and condolences to her family hung in front of homes here.
Residents here described the late mayor as an 鈥渆xemplary leader鈥 and 鈥渂eloved mother鈥 of the town.
Tugna鈥檚 husband, former Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) Rep. Sherwin Tugna, and their four children wore black shirts bearing the message 鈥淪alamat Mayor Joni鈥 during the memorial service and funeral march.
They were joined by her older brother Sen. Joel Villanueva, their father JIL Movement founder and CIBAC Rep. Eduardo 鈥淓ddie鈥 Villanueva, and other relatives. INQ