By Darryl John Esguerra

NEW SC JUSTICE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administers the oath of office to Supreme Court’s Court Administrator Raul Villanueva as new SC associate justice in Malacañang on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). Villanueva will be the President’s first appointee in the High Court, replacing newly retired Associate Justice Mario Lopez. (Malacañang Press Corps)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Supreme Court’s (SC) Court Administrator Raul Villanueva as the new SC associate justice, his first appointee to the high court.

Marcos administered Villanueva’s oath of office in a ceremony in Malacañang Tuesday.

Villanueva replaced Associate Justice Mario Lopez, who retired from the service on June 4.

Marcos said Villanueva’s appointment is “well deserved”, citing his “wealth of experience as a judge.”

The new SC justice began his judicial career in 2022 as presiding judge of the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 255.

He also served as acting presiding judge of Taguig City RTC Branch 267 and the Manila RTC Branch 4.

“He [Villanueva] is well-versed in all that needs to be done for the proper and smooth function of the court,” Marcos said in a short press statement after Villanueva’s oath.

He also expressed hope that Villanueva would be able to contribute to the good working relationship between the SC and the executive branch. (PNA)